Automatic Analyzer

Prior to dispensing a sample into a reaction vessel 1 and performing sample measurement, an automatic analyzer dispenses pure water into the reaction vessel to perform water blank measurement, corrects absorbance data of a reaction solution of the sample and a reagent measured by sample measurement with water blank absorbance data measured by the water blank measurement, and performs an analytical sequence that analyzes the sample based on the corrected absorbance data, and also determines a water quality abnormality of a reaction tank circulating water 112 based on the water blank absorbance data measured by the water blank measurement. Accordingly, water quality abnormality is detected in a reaction tank circulating water without adding a dedicated mechanism or confirmation operation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an analyzer for a clinical examination that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of a biological sample such as blood or urine, and particularly relates to an automatic analyzer including a reaction tank circulation flow path.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, in a biochemical automatic analyzer, in order to perform component analysis of a biological sample such as serum or urine, a test sample and a reagent are caused to react with each other in a reaction vessel, and a change in color tone or turbidity caused by the reaction is optically measured by a photometry unit such as a spectral photometer at regular time intervals. In order to suppress a fluctuation in the chemical reaction rate of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel depending on a temperature fluctuation, the reaction vessel is immersed in constant temperature water where the temperature is stable. This constant temperature water is circulated through a heater and a cooling device to keep the reaction vessel at the stable temperature.

However, when bubbles are mixed in the constant temperature water and cross an optical axis during measurement of absorbance data of the sample in the reaction vessel, light is scattered or absorbed by the bubbles such that the measured absorbance data is a value different from that of a typical chemical reaction. Therefore, the automatic analyzer includes a degassing unit in a circulation flow path to suppress the formation of bubbles. When the degassing performance of the degassing unit decreases, bubbles are formed in circulating water.

However, the presence of bubbles does not always cause an abnormal value of an analysis result, and when an examination item is an item where absorbance values at two wavelengths are acquired to calculate a concentration using a difference therebetween, even if the measured absorbance values are affected by bubbles, the effects of the bubbles can be suppressed by acquiring the difference. Therefore, there is a case where an increase in the amount of the bubbles cannot be noticed from the analysis result.

PTL 1 discloses that whether disturbance related to a photometry portion of a reaction vessel occurs is determined by measuring light at a wavelength where there is no absorption by a reaction solution multiple times. Examples of the disturbance include scratches, contamination, and bubble attachment of the reaction vessel.

PTL 2 discloses that, when absorbance data in the same reaction vessel is measured at multiple points at predetermined time intervals in a chronological manner and a spike-like change in absorbance is detected, alarm information is added to the measurement data, and it is determined that there is an effect of an increase in the amount of foreign matter such as bubbles or scale in constant temperature water based on an alarm occurrence frequency.

PTL 3 discloses that reaction tank water is dispensed into a reaction vessel during an operation of an automatic analyzer and absorbance of the reaction tank water is measured to determine the water quality of the reaction tank water such that supply and drainage of the reaction tank water are performed depending on the water quality determination.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

A main factor for the mixing of bubbles in constant temperature water is a decrease in the degassing performance of the degassing unit for the constant temperature water. When the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the reaction tank circulating water increases due to a decrease in the degassing performance of the degassing unit, a state where bubbles are likely to be formed is established. However, typically, the degassing unit is disposed in the analyzer, and it is difficult to frequently access the degassing unit. Further, the degassing unit is connected to a flow path, and thus it is difficult to check the internal state of the degassing unit.

In PTL 1 and PTL 2, an abnormality is determined from a change in absorbance at a wavelength where there is no absorption for a reaction solution obtained by a chemical reaction of a sample and a reagent.FIG.14illustrates the process of a reaction of creatinine at a sub-wavelength. Even when an analysis item is not a photometry target and is the measurement at a wavelength where there is originally no absorption, a change in absorbance may occur depending on components in a specimen. When there is no absorption and stable values are measured as in a graph501(Δ), there is no problem. However, depending on components in a specimen, a change in absorbance may occur as in a graph502(♦). This way, in a reaction solution of a specimen and a reagent, a change in absorbance may occur due to an unintended side reaction. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately perform abnormality determination.

In PTL 3, the water quality abnormality of the reaction tank circulating water is determined by measuring the reaction tank water (alternatively, a standard sample having a known absorbance). However, during an operation, dedicated measurement for the water quality determination of the reaction tank circulating water is performed, and the examination efficiency of the automatic analyzer may decrease.

An object of the present invention is to implement an automatic analyzer that can detect a water quality abnormality where bubbles are likely to be formed in reaction tank circulating water using an absorbance value obtained by an operation without adding a dedicated mechanism or measurement.

Solution to Problem

An automatic analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a reaction tank; a reaction disk that holds a reaction vessel in a state of being immersed in a reaction tank circulating water in the reaction tank; a circulation flow path that adjusts a temperature of the reaction tank circulating water from the reaction tank and returns the reaction tank circulating water to the reaction tank; a degassing device provided in the circulation flow path to degas the reaction tank circulating water; a photometer including a light source lamp and a photodetector that detects light emitted from the light source lamp and transmitted through the reaction vessel; and a control unit that controls a sequence of analyzing a sample and analyzes the sample, in which, prior to dispensing the sample into the reaction vessel and performing sample measurement, the control unit dispenses pure water into the reaction vessel to perform water blank measurement, corrects absorbance data of a reaction solution of the sample and a reagent measured by sample measurement with water blank absorbance data measured by the water blank measurement, and analyzes the sample based on the corrected absorbance data, and the control unit determines a water quality abnormality of the reaction tank circulating water based on the water blank absorbance data measured by the water blank measurement.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, a water quality abnormality of reaction tank circulating water can be detected without adding a dedicated mechanism or check operation. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the description of the following embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

An operation of an automatic analyzer will be described based on a configuration of the automatic analyzer illustrated inFIG.1. A control of an analytical sequence in the automatic analyzer and an analysis process of receiving a detection signal from a photometer described below are performed by a control unit22.

First, reaction vessels1are cleaned by a cleaning mechanism17and a pure water pump for cleaning15. Next, regarding each of the reaction vessels1, pure water is dispensed into the reaction vessel, and the measurement is performed by a photometer configured by a light source lamp3, a diffraction grating for spectroscopy4, and a photodetector5to acquire photometry data (water blank value). Next, pure water is removed from the reaction vessel1.

Next, a sample in a sample cup7placed on a sample disk8is dispensed into the reaction vessel1placed on a reaction disk2using a sample dispensing mechanism11and a sample dispensing pump14. Likewise, a reagent in a reagent bottle9placed on a reagent disk10is dispensed into the reaction vessel1by a reagent dispensing mechanism12and a reagent dispensing pump16, and both of the sample and the reagent are stirred using a stirring mechanism13. In the reaction solution in the reaction vessel1, color development of the chemical reaction is measured by the photometer at regular time intervals determined according to the rotation of the reaction disk2. In order to stably accelerate the chemical reaction, the reaction vessel1is kept at a constant temperature by a constant temperature water supply device6. After completion of the measurement, the reaction vessel1is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism17and the pure water pump for cleaning15and is used for next measurement of the sample.

A configuration of the photometer will be described. Light emitted from the light source lamp3transmits through the reaction vessel1and is separated into respective components by the diffraction grating wavelength for spectroscopy4. Before the separation, the required number of the photodetectors5are installed and disposed at positions corresponding to wavelengths required for the measurement. The light incident on the photodetector5is converted into photoelectricity to generate a current in proportion to the light intensity, that is, the number of photons in the light. This current is called a photocurrent. In order to obtain an electric signal in proportion to a concentration of a component to be measured in a sample, the concentration is converted into a digital value by an AD conversion unit20, is stored in a storage device23via an interface bus27, and is analyzed by the control unit22.

In order to calculate the concentration of the sample, absorbance data corrected by the water blank value is used. The absorbance varies due to the effect of scratches or attachment of contamination of a sample container and a change in the light intensity of the light source lamp. Therefore, in general, the water blank value is acquired immediately before the sample measurement.

This way, in the automatic analyzer, the reaction vessel1is repeatedly used in order of the cleaning, the water blank measurement, and the sample measurement. In the water blank measurement, blank water (purified water, pure water) is dispensed into the reaction vessel1, and the measurement is performed at a timing at which the reaction vessel1crosses the front of the photometer due to the rotation operation of the reaction disk2. Since the purified water has low wettability, bubbles are likely to be attached to a wall of the reaction vessel1. When bubbles are attached to an inner wall of the reaction vessel, accurate absorbance cannot be obtained. Therefore, in the water blank measurement, water is discharged into the reaction vessel1and the stirring operation is not also performed to suppress the formation of bubbles. In addition, the surroundings of the reaction vessel1are kept at a constant temperature of 37° C. by circulating the reaction tank circulating water. When the temperature of the blank water increases, dissolved oxygen is likely to form bubbles, and thus the measurement is completed within a short period of time. Note that, in general, the measurement is performed multiple times in consideration of a variation in measured value. In the water blank absorbance measurement, the reaction vessel does not include a factor that causes a variation in absorbance. Therefore, a stable measured value can be obtained.

FIG.2Ais an example of a circulation flow path of the reaction tank circulating water. The reaction vessel1is disposed on a circumference in a reaction tank18. The reaction tank18is filled with reaction tank circulating water112. The reaction tank circulating water112is circulated in order of the reaction tank18, a degassing device102, a cooling device104, a circulation pump105, and a heating device106by the circulation pump105. In order to stably perform a chemical reaction of a reaction solution111in the reaction vessel1, the temperature of the reaction tank circulating water112is kept constant by the action of the cooling device104and the heating device106. The water level of the reaction tank circulating water112decreases by evaporation, overflow from the reaction tank18, or the like. In this case, water is supplied from a water supply tank107by a water supply pump108.

Bubbles in the reaction tank circulating water112are disturbances in the absorbance measurement. Therefore, in the circulation flow path ofFIG.2A, an increase in the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the circulating water is prevented by constantly degassing the reaction tank circulating water112using the degassing device102. Further, a case where the formed bubbles are attached to the reaction vessel1or an optical axis window is assumed, and a surfactant is generally added to the reaction tank circulating water112.

FIG.2Billustrates a configuration example of the degassing device102. In the degassing device102, a container121is provided to surround a flow path120of the reaction tank circulating water112containing a hollow fiber, and the container121is connected to a vacuum pump103. By adjusting the internal pressure of the container121to be negative using the vacuum pump103, the reaction tank circulating water112of the flow path120is degassed. In the degassing device102, for example, when the hollow fiber is cut or when clogging occurs in the flow path120, the reaction tank circulating water112may pass through the degassing device102in a state where the reaction tank circulating water112is not appropriately degassed. Alternatively, when the container121is cracked such that airtightness deteriorates, there is a case where the degassing of the reaction tank circulating water112cannot be sufficiently performed.

When the dissolved oxygen concentration in the reaction tank circulating water112is kept at 5.0 mg/L or less, a variation in absorbance caused by bubbles is not seen. With reference toFIGS.3and4, the effect of the dissolved oxygen concentration on a water blank absorbance range will be described.FIGS.3and4illustrate results obtained by measuring the water blank value three times and plotting a range thereof (maximum value-minimum value). When photometry data that is affected by the bubbles in the reaction tank circulating water112is present among the photometry data obtained by the three times of measurement, the absorbance range increases. This measurement is performed 2,400 times. In both ofFIGS.3and4, 1,200 times of measurements in the first half include measurements for light at six wavelengths (340, 415, 480, 546, 600, and 700 nm), and 1,200 times of measurements in the second half are only measurements for light at 340 nm. In either case, the measurements in the first half and the measurements in the second half show the same tendency, and the effect of the selection of the wavelength was not recognized.

FIG.3illustrates a measurement example when a degassing mechanism operates normally, in which the dissolved oxygen concentration in the reaction tank circulating water was 4.7 mg/L. The water blank absorbance range (ABS.) is roughly a value of 0.001 or less and is suppressed to about 0.002 at a maximum. At this time, an average value and a standard deviation of the water blank absorbance range were 6.9 mg/L and 2.7 mg/L, respectively.

FIG.4illustrates a measurement result when the dissolved oxygen concentration was 6.5 mg/L.FIG.4illustrates a state where bubbles are formed in the reaction tank circulating water and randomly cross the optical path of the photometer. The sizes of the floating bubbles are various, and a change amount of absorbance varies depending on the size or the amount. Therefore, the width of the distribution of the water blank absorbance range increases. In the present result, the maximum value of the water blank absorbance range (ABS.) is about 0.01, but the range may exceed 0.01. At this time, an average value and a standard deviation of the water blank absorbance range were 11.5 mg/L and 7.7 mg/L, respectively.

InFIG.5, the average value of the water blank absorbance range (ABS.) is calculated from the results acquired by changing the dissolved oxygen concentration in the reaction tank circulating water in 4.7 to 6.5 mg/L and is plotted. In addition, inFIG.6, the standard deviation of the water blank absorbance range (ABS.) is plotted. In either case, a correlation with the dissolved oxygen concentration is recognized. This way, it can be seen that the state of the dissolved oxygen concentration can be detected by monitoring the water blank absorbance range of the reaction tank circulating water112. During this detection, the water blank absorbance range shows the same tendency without depending on the measurement wavelength. Therefore, during the monitoring, photometry data at different wavelengths may be mixed. The water blank measurement is performed with light at a wavelength used for an examination. Therefore, the water blank measurement is performed at different wavelengths according to examination contents to be requested. Therefore, the water blank absorbance range does not depend on the measurement wavelength, which is an advantageous characteristic. Of course, the water quality of the reaction tank circulating water112may be monitored using only data at a specific wavelength.

As an index for the dissolved oxygen concentration, the average value (FIG.5) or the standard deviation (FIG.6) of the water blank absorbance range may be used, or an index derived therefrom may also be used. For example, a frequency at which a set water blank absorbance range (the average value or the standard deviation) is exceeded can also be used as the index.

Next, the details of a process in which the automatic analyzer determines a water quality abnormality of the reaction tank circulating water based on the index for the water blank absorbance range will be described.FIG.7is a flowchart for determining the water quality abnormality. This process is performed by allowing the control unit22to activate a reaction tank circulating water monitoring program and operating the hardware of the automatic analyzer in combination.

First, the control unit22measures a water blank absorbance (S01), and stores the measured water blank absorbance in the storage device23(S02). A water blank absorbance range for each water blank measurement is calculated from the obtained photometry data (S03), and is stored in the storage device23(S04). This water blank absorbance measurement is performed as the water blank measurement in the analytical sequence of the automatic analyzer described above with reference toFIG.1. Therefore, by allowing the control unit22to perform a reaction tank circulating water monitoring function, new measurement therefor is not required.

FIG.11illustrates an example of GUI (Graphical User Interface) for setting the water blank absorbance measurement used for the reaction tank circulating water monitoring function. A measurement condition setting screen300includes a measurement condition setting unit301and an exclusion condition setting unit302. Regarding a wavelength at which the measurement can be performed using the photometer of the analyzer, the measurement condition setting unit301sets a wavelength at which the water blank absorbance measurement is used for the calculation of the index. In this example, wavelengths at which the measurement can be performed using the photometer are illustrated, and the wavelengths can be selected by a user. An exclusion condition302sets a water blank absorbance measurement excluded from the calculation of the index. For example, immediately after replacing the reaction tank circulating water, the degassing by the degassing device102is insufficient, and the dissolved oxygen concentration in the reaction tank circulating water112is in a state of being higher than that in a steady state. Therefore, photometry data measured within a predetermined time after replacing the circulating water can be set not to be used for the calculation of the index. Alternatively, immediately after the start of the lighting of the light source lamp3, the light intensity from the light source lamp3may be unstable. Therefore, photometry data measured within a predetermined time after lighting the light source lamp3can be set not to be used for the calculation of the index.

Whether a required number of pieces of data of the water blank absorbance range are stored is determined (S05), and the measurement and storage of the water blank absorbance and the calculation and storage of the water blank absorbance range are repeated until the required number of pieces of data are accumulated. When the required number of pieces of data are accumulated, the control unit22calculates an index value of the reaction tank circulating water based on the water blank absorbance range accumulated in the storage device23, and stores the calculated index value in the storage device23(S06). As the index, the index for the dissolved oxygen concentration described above is used. The control unit22compares the index value to a threshold (S07), and when the index value exceeds the threshold, the control unit22notifies the user of a water quality abnormality of the reaction tank circulating water (S08). The threshold for the abnormality determination may be set to a fixed value, or may be set based on by requiring a distribution of normal data in the analyzer. For example, a standard deviation SD of the water blank absorbance range is calculated from a plurality of pieces of measurement data collected in a state where the analyzer is normal after maintenance of the reaction tank, and is multiplied by a set coefficient C to obtain a threshold (C×SD). The threshold is updated whenever the maintenance of the reaction tank is performed.

FIG.12illustrates an example of GUI for setting determination conditions in Step S07. In Step S07, one determination condition may be set to determine whether the condition is satisfied, or a plurality of determination conditions may be set to determine whether a combination of the conditions (for example, AND condition or OR condition) is satisfied. Therefore, the plurality of determination conditions can be set in the GUI. An activation setting unit311sets whether to use the condition for the determination in Step S07. A data number setting unit312sets the number of pieces of data required for the determination in Step S05. In this GUI, an acquisition time of photometry data can also be set by an acquisition time setting unit313instead of setting the number of pieces of data. In a case where both of the data number setting unit312and the acquisition time setting unit313are set as in a determination condition1, when any one of the conditions is satisfied in Step S05, it is determined that the required number of pieces of data of the water blank absorbance range are accumulated. An index setting unit314sets an index used for the determination in Step S07, and a threshold setting unit315sets a threshold used for the determination in Step S07. When a frequency at which the threshold is exceeded is used as the determination condition, a threshold exceedance occurrence frequency setting unit316can set a threshold for a frequency at which the threshold exceedance occurs. As a result, for example, in a determination condition2, a determination condition is set to determine an abnormality when a frequency at which a deviation from the average value exceeds 300 is three times or more within 12 hours.

When the water quality abnormality of the reaction tank circulating water is detected, the water quality abnormality can be output to a display24or a printer25to warn the user. In addition, by imparting a function of adding and recording not only the measurement data but also the alarm information to the storage device23and subsequently referring to the accumulated data, abnormality history can be analyzed from the measurement data. As a result, the measurement reliability can be improved. Further, the accumulated data may be transmitted to a service location via a communication line to monitor the state of the automatic analyzer at the service location. As a result, a countermeasure such as an instruction for maintenance or component replacement can be taken at an early stage, and the reliability of the analyzer can be improved.

The water quality abnormality of the reaction tank circulating water is determined based on the water blank absorbance. Therefore, as factors that cause the abnormality, not only the malfunction of the degassing device but also deficiency in the surfactant concentration in the reaction tank circulating water can be considered. When the reaction tank circulating water112overflows from the reaction tank18, water is replenished such that the surfactant concentration in the reaction tank circulating water112gradually decreases. When the surfactant concentration decreases, bubbles are likely to be attached to a window of the reaction vessel or the reaction tank. In this case, the water blank absorbance range is expected to be improved by the addition of the surfactant. Therefore, when the abnormality determination is made in Step S07, a step of adding the surfactant to the reaction tank circulating water112may be provided. The surfactant is added, the water blank absorbance is measured again, and the index value is calculated to perform the abnormality determination (S01to S07). When the index value indicates an abnormality even after the abnormality determination, an alarm is generated and notified to the user (S08).

In addition, when floating matter such as trash is present in the reaction tank circulating water112, the amount of the reaction tank circulating water112increases. Therefore, the reaction tank circulating water112may be improved by performing maintenance such as the water replacement of the reaction tank or the cleaning of the reaction tank. Therefore, by storing and monitoring the operational situation of the maintenance together with the water blank absorbance range, the determination of the water quality abnormality can be made more appropriately.

That is, in the present embodiment, the water quality abnormality of the reaction tank circulating water112is determined based on the water blank absorbance range. As factors that worsen the water blank absorbance range, some factors can be considered, and methods of resolving abnormality caused by the factors are different. Accordingly, an alarm may be output by determining the water quality in consideration of past operation history in the automatic analyzer. As a result, when an abnormality is highly likely to occur in the degassing device, the abnormality can be narrowed to output an alarm. To that end, it can be considered to use an abnormality determination algorithm by machine learning for the determination of the water quality abnormality of the reaction tank circulating water112.

FIG.8is a functional block diagram for generating and updating a learning model using a learning device210. The learning device210is implemented by a processing device (processor) executing a program stored in a storage device of the learning device210. A physical configuration of the learning device210may be configured by a simple server or PC (Personal Computer) or may be configured by a plurality of servers to which any part of the processing device or the storage device is connected via a network. In addition, the same functions as all or some of the functions configured by software may be implemented by hardware such as FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

The learning device210acquires information related to the water quality of the reaction tank circulating water, for example, water blank absorbance range data201, maintenance history data202, and alarm information data203(the information will be collectively referred to as water quality related data) from the storage device23of the automatic analyzer. In addition, the water quality related data may include the water blank absorbance range data or index data calculated based on the water blank absorbance range data.FIG.9Aillustrates an example of the maintenance history data202. The maintenance history data202includes a maintenance name231of the performed maintenance, and a date232and a time233at which the maintenance is performed.FIG.9Billustrates an example of the alarm information data203. The alarm information data203includes a date241and a time242at which the automatic analyzer outputs an alarm, an alarm code243, and an alarm name244.

An input unit211acquires these pieces of data directly or via a network. A training data generation unit212generates training data from the data acquired by the input unit211.FIG.13illustrates an example of GUI in which the training data generation unit212is displayed on a display unit of the learning device210. In a training data capture screen400, a graph402representing the transition of the index (the standard deviation of the water blank absorbance range) of the determination condition1illustrated inFIG.12is displayed below a graph401representing the transition of the water blank absorbance range. The two graphs401and402can be moved in conjunction with a display position by a slider403. An operator cuts out appropriate training data for learning while seeing the transitions of the water blank absorbance range and the index. Specifically, by designating a capture start position404and a capture end position405on the graphs and pressing an abnormality pattern capture button406, the water quality related data in this section can be captured as a pattern representing the water quality abnormality. Conversely, by pressing an exclusion pattern capture button407, the water quality related data in this section can be captured as a pattern not representing the water quality abnormality. As a result, the notice of the operator can be reflected on the learning of the learning model.

A training data input unit213inputs the training data generated by the training data generation unit212to the learning model for determining the water quality abnormality, and a learning model update unit214updates the learning model. An updated learning model220is transmitted from an output unit217to the automatic analyzer, and the control unit22determines the performance of the degassing device using the learning model220. An original form of the learning model used for determining the performance of the degassing device is accumulated in an algorithm database215. In order to improve the accuracy of the learning model, it is necessary to learn using as much training data as possible. Therefore, the same data is collected from another automatic analyzer and is stored in other device data database216. The learning model accumulated in the algorithm database215is generated based on the training data from the other device data database216. When the learning model update unit214updates the learning model and the algorithm of the learning model is changed, change information is fed back to the training data generation unit212, and a training data generation condition of the training data generation unit212is updated.

As the learning model220, any learner such as a neural network, a regression tree, or a Bayes identifier can be used.FIG.10illustrates an example of a learning model using a neural network. In a learning model90, information input to an input layer91propagates to an intermediate layer92, the information further propagates to an output layer93, and an inference result based on the information input from the output layer93to the input layer91is output. Each of the input layer91, the intermediate layer92, and the output layer93include a plurality of input units, a plurality of intermediate units, and a plurality of output units represented by circles. Typically, a plurality of intermediate layers are provided in a neural network. However, the intermediate layer92is representatively illustrated in the drawing. The information input to each of the input units of the input layer91is weighted by a coupling coefficient between the input unit and the intermediate unit and is input to each of the intermediate units. The value of the intermediate unit of the intermediate layer92is calculated by adding the value from the input unit. In addition, the output of each of the intermediate units of the intermediate layer92is weighted by a coupling coefficient between the intermediate unit and the output unit and is input to each of the output units. The value of the output unit of the output layer93is calculated by adding the value from the intermediate unit. This way, the process in the intermediate layer92corresponds to a process of nonlinearly converting the value of input data input to the input layer91to output data of the output layer93.

The learning model90is a learning model related to “degassing performance determination” as the output data, and is illustrated together with examples of input and output data. Both of the input and output data are exemplary. The water quality related data (or processed data thereof; hereinafter, also referred to as the water quality related data without being distinguished) is input to the input layer91, and an operation result corresponding to the input is output from the output layer93. Examples of the data input to the input layer91include the water blank absorbance and the water blank absorbance range (maximum value−minimum value) defined for each of the learning models and measurement result information94such as a frequency at which the value of the water blank absorbance range is an abnormal value, and device related information95including the operational situation of maintenance by the user and information on an alarm history that has been generated thus far. Examples of the maintenance include operations that may affect the degassing performance, for example, the water replacement of the reaction tank, the cleaning of the reaction tank, and the replacement of the degassing device. In addition, the information on the alarm history includes various levels of alarms. For example, there is a case where the maintenance is necessary to cancel the alarm or a case where the maintenance is not immediately necessary but the alarm is at an attention level that requires observation.

The output data from the output layer93is an inference result for a degassing performance determination result97and a cause of abnormality98, and the necessity of an action on the degassing device102can be determined based on this result. An output value such as “degassing performance deteriorated (alarm level)”, “degassing performance attention required”, or “degassing performance normal” that is output data of a degassing performance determination result97is a probability value, and is determined based on whether the output probability value is a predetermined threshold or more. The cause of abnormality98implies the occurrence of an abnormality due to a factor other than the degassing device. For example, the occurrence of an abnormal value caused by a cause of abnormality other than the degassing performance, for example, the clogging of the reaction tank such as contamination or trash or the light source lamp can be inferred.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1: reaction vessel2: reaction disk3: light source lamp4: diffraction grating for spectroscopy5: photodetector6: constant temperature water supply device7: sample cup8: sample disk9: reagent bottle10: reagent disk11: sample dispensing mechanism12: reagent dispensing mechanism13: stirring mechanism14: sample dispensing pump15: pure water pump for cleaning16: reagent dispensing pump17: cleaning mechanism18: reaction tank20: AD conversion unit22: control unit23: storage device24: display25: printer26: keyboard27: interface bus90: learning model91: input layer92: intermediate layer93: output layer94: measurement result information95: device related information97: degassing performance determination result98: cause of abnormality102: degassing device103: vacuum pump104: cooling device105: circulation pump106: heating device107: water supply tank108: water supply pump109: water supply solenoid valve110: drainage solenoid valve111: reaction solution112: reaction tank circulating water120: flow path121: container201: water blank absorbance range data202: maintenance history data203: alarm information data210: learning device211: input unit212: training data generation unit213: training data input unit214: learning model update unit215: algorithm database216: other device data database217: output unit220: learning model231: maintenance name232,241: date233,242: time243: alarm code244: alarm name300: measurement condition setting screen301: measurement condition setting unit302: exclusion condition setting unit310: determination condition setting unit311: activation setting unit312: data number setting unit313: acquisition time setting unit314: index setting unit315: threshold setting unit316: threshold exceedance occurrence frequency setting unit400: training data capture screen401,402: graph403: slider404: capture start position405: capture end position406: abnormality pattern capture button407: exclusion pattern capture button501,502: graph