Abstract:
A reagent shortage detection unit detects that one of the reagents of reagent supply units of analyzing apparatuses is shortage. A reagent shortage occurrence display unit notifies the shortage of the one reagent in response to that the reagent shortage detection unit detects that the one reagent of the analyzing apparatuses is shortage. A control separation unit separates from the control of the analyzing system, the analyzing apparatus in which the one reagent is shortage, in accordance with reagent shortage detection information from the reagent shortage detection unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an automatic analyzing system including an automatic analyzing apparatus for automatically analyzing a living body sample such as blood or urine and, in particular, relates to an automatic analyzing system in which plural automatic analyzing apparatuses are coupled and a sample is mounted at each of the analyzing apparatuses. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, in an automatic analyzing apparatus for analyzing samples of living bodies such as blood or urine, the analysis is made by using so-called stand-alone apparatuses in which the respective apparatuses perform the analysis independently. However, in recent years, an automatic analyzing system is proposed in which, in order to improve the working efficiency within an inspection room, plural automatic analyzing apparatuses (hereinafter called analyzing modules) are coupled through a carry thereby to make possible to measure plural items with high processing ability. JP-A-9-243646 discloses an automatic analyzing system in which the same kind of reagent is mounted on at least two of plural analyzing modules, then when the reagent of one of the two analyzing modules becomes shortage, a sample to be analyzed is transferred to the other of the two analyzing modules on which the same kind of reagent is mounted thereby to continue the analysis of the sample without stopping the entirety of the analyzing system for the exchange of the reagent. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As methods of coping with a case where reagent becomes shortage in an analyzing module, there are two methods as follows. That is, according to one method, the analysis of an analysis item relating to the reagent thus become shortage is hereinafter stopped at the analyzing module (the analyzing module is masked as if the analyzing module could not analyze the analysis item relating to the reagent thus become shortage from the first when viewed from an entire control computer). According to the other method, the analysis of the analyzing module is temporarily stopped, then the reagent thus become shortage is replaced by new one and then the analysis is continued. The reagents are also classified into two kinds as follows. That is, one kind of reagent is frequently used and so when an amount of the reagent becomes shortage, the reagent thus become shortage is preferably replaced by new one at each time of the shortage. In contrast, the other kind of reagent is rarely used and so even when an amount of the reagent becomes shortage, the analysis is desirably continued by another analyzing module on which the same kind of reagent is mounted, whereby the analyzing module having the reagent thus become shortage continues the analysis while masking the reagent thus become shortage in order not to reduce the analyzing efficiency. However, JP-A-9-243646 does not disclose such classification of the two kinds of the reagents. That is, JP-A-9-243646 does not take into consideration as to when an operator exchanges the reagent in the case where the reagent becomes shortage in the analyzing module. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzing system which can continue analysis without reducing analyzing efficiency of the entire system even when reagent becomes shortage in an analyzing module. 
     In order to attain the aforesaid object, according to an aspect of the present invention, in an automatic analyzing system which includes a carry line for carrying a sample rack from a rack sending unit to a rack recovery unit and analyzes samples by using a plurality of analyzing apparatuses which are disposed along the carry line, wherein each of the analyzing apparatuses includes a reaction unit, a sample dispensing unit for dispensing the sample on the sample rack into the reaction unit and a reagent supply unit for supplying reagents corresponding to an analysis item to the reaction unit, the automatic analyzing system including:
         a reagent shortage detection unit for detecting that one of the reagents of the reagent supply units of the analyzing apparatuses is shortage;   reagent shortage occurrence display unit which notifies the shortage of the one reagent in response to that the reagent shortage detection unit detects that the one reagent of the analyzing apparatuses is shortage; and   control separation unit for separating from the control of the automatic analyzing system, the analyzing apparatus in which the one reagent is shortage, in accordance with reagent shortage detection information from the reagent shortage detection unit.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of the automatic analyzing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view showing the configuration of an immunity analyzing module used in the analyzing system according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the configuration of a biochemical analyzing module used in the analyzing system according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing the procedure of the system operation in the automatic analyzing system according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting reagent exchange items in the analyzing module according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The configuration and operation of the automatic analyzing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
     First, the entire configuration of the automatic analyzing system according to the embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of the automatic analyzing system according to the embodiment of the invention. 
     The automatic analyzing system according to the embodiment includes a sample rack install unit  1 , an ID read unit  2 , a carry line  3 , a re-inspection carry line  4 , analyzing modules  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , a sample rack stand-by unit  9 , a sample rack recovery unit  10  and an entire management computer  11 . 
     The sample rack install unit  1  is a portion in which plural sample racks each holding plural samples are installed. The analyzing modules  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  are disposed along the carry line  3  and are coupled to the carry line  3  so as to be detachable therefrom. The number of the analyzing modules are an arbitrary and this embodiment shows a case where four analyzing modules are used. The four analyzing modules  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  constitute two analyzing units. That is, a first analyzing unit is constituted by the two analyzing modules on the upstream side of the carry line  3 , that is, the analyzing modules  5  and  6 , which are set as immunity analyzing modules. A second analyzing unit is constituted by the two analyzing modules on the downstream side of the carry line  3 , that is, the analyzing modules  7  and  8 , which are set as biochemical analyzing modules. The number of the analyzing modules constituting the biochemical analyzing modules is not limited to two and may be three or more. 
     Although this embodiment shows a case of the biochemical analyzing modules are combined with the immunity analyzing modules, the embodiment may be constituted by the combination of other analyzing modules such as gene analyzing modules. 
     The carry line  3  transfers the sample rack installed at the sample rack install unit  1  to a predetermined one of the analyzing modules  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 . The carry line  3  also transfer the sample rack which holds the sample having been analyzed by the analyzing modules  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  so as to be housed within the sample rack recovery unit  10 . The analyzing modules  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  have leading lines  51 ,  61 ,  71  and  81 , respectively. The sample rack is transferred to the analyzing modules  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  from the carry line  3  through the leading lines  51 ,  61 ,  71  and  81 , respectively. The re-inspection carry line  4  serves to return the sample rack having been analyzed by one of the analyzing modules  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  to the inlet of the carry line  3  when the re-inspection is necessary or when it is necessary to analyze by another of the analyzing modules. The sample rack stand-by unit or buffer  9  is a portion for temporarily waiting the sample having been analyzed by one of the analyzing modules when the sample is to be further analyzed by another of the analyzing modules or for temporarily waiting the sample until the determination result is obtained as to whether or not the re-inspection is to be performed after the completion of the dispensing and analysis has been completed in the analyzing module. 
     The analyzing modules  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  have computers  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  for performing the control of necessary processings within the analyzing modules, respectively. The sample rack install unit  1  has a computer  16  for performing necessary control within the sample rack install unit  1 , the carry line  3 , the re-inspection carry line  4  and the sample rack recovery unit  10 . Further, the sample rack stand-by unit  9  has a computer  17  for performing necessary control within the sample rack. The computers  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17  and the ID read unit  2  are connected to the entire management computer  11 . An operation unit  18  for inputting necessary information and a display unit  19  for displaying the analysis result are connected to the entire management computer  11 . 
     The sample held by the sample rack has a sample ID (identifier) representing information (a receipt number, name of a patient, a requested analysis item etc.) relating to the sample. The sample rack has a rack ID representing rack identification information such as a rack number etc. Although the sample rack placed at the sample rack install unit  1  is transferred by the carry line  3 , when the sample rack is transferred to the carry line  3 , the sample ID and the sample rack ID etc. are read by the ID read unit  2  and sent to the entire management computer  11 . The entire management computer  11  determines at which analyzing module the requested analysis item is performed based on the read information and supplies the information to the computer  16  and the one of the computers  12  to  15  corresponding to the analyzing module thus determined. 
     Next, the configuration of the immunity analyzing module used in the analyzing system according to the embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , although the explanation is made as to the immunity analyzing module  5  shown in  FIG. 1  as an example, the immunity analyzing module  6  has the same configuration. In the figure, portions identical to those of  FIG. 1  are referred to by the common symbols, with explanation thereof being omitted. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view showing the configuration of the immunity analyzing module used in the analyzing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     A plurality of reagent containers  20  are disposed on a disc  21  in a circular shape. The entire management computer  11  has a register unit for registering particular reagents. The disc  21  is rotated by a motor. A plurality of reaction containers  22  are disposed on a constant temperature bath  23  in a circular shape. The constant temperature bath  23  is rotated by a motor. In accordance with the rotation of the constant temperature bath  23 , each of the reaction containers  22  is moved from a position  24  to a sample dispensing position  25 , a reagent dispensing position  26  and a reaction solution suction position  27 . 
     A sample dispensing pipet  28  can be moved to the sample dispensing position  25  from a sample suction position  29  by the motor. In the case of leading a sample rack  30  to the leading line  51  and dispensing the sample held by the sample rack and positioned at the sample suction position  29  into the reaction container  22 , a disposable chip  31  is attached to the tip end of the nozzle of the sample dispensing pipet  28 . 
     A reagent dispensing pipet  32  is movable from a reagent suction position  33  to the reagent dispensing position  26 . A shipper  34  can be moved among the reaction solution suction position  27 , a buffer solution suction position  35  and a flow-cell inside washing position  36 . The shipper  34  has a function of sending the reaction solution to the flow cell within a detection unit  37  through a tube. 
     The chip and a reaction container transfer mechanism  38  transfer the disposable chip  31  to a chip attaching position  55  from a chip storing position  39  and also transfer the reaction container  22  to the reaction container installation position  24  from a reaction container storing position  40 . The reagent dispensing pipet  32  and the shipper  34  wash their own nozzles at their washing positions, respectively. 
     Next, the operation of the immunity analyzing module  5  will be explained. 
     First, the chip and a reaction container transfer mechanism  38  transfer the disposable chip  31  to the chip attaching position  55  and also transfer the reaction container  22  to the reaction container installation position  24 . When the sample is positioned at the sample suction position  29 , the disc  21  rotates the reagent container  20 , in which the reagent used for analyzing the sample is contained, so as to be positioned at the reagent suction position  33 . Further, the sample dispensing pipet  28  is attached at its nozzle with the disposable chip  31 , then moved to the sample suction position  29  and sucks the sample. After sucking the sample, the sample dispensing pipet  28  is moved to the sample dispensing position  25  and discharges the sample thus sucked into the reaction container  22 . After discharging the sample, the sample dispensing pipet  28  is moved to a chip disposing position  41  and disposes the chip at the tip end thereof. 
     The reaction container  22  discharged the sample in this manner is moved to the reagent dispensing position  26  through the rotation of the reaction disc  23 . The reagent dispensing pipet  32  sucks the reagent disposed at the reagent suction position  33  and discharges the reagent into the reaction container  22  having been moved at the reagent dispensing position  26 . Upon the lapse of a predetermined time period, the reaction container  22  in which immunity reaction solution of the reagent and the sample is contained is moved to the reaction solution suction position  27  through the rotation of the reaction disc  23 . The shipper  34  sucks the reaction solution, then is moved to the buffer solution suction position  35  thereby to suck the buffer solution and moves these solution to the flow cell within the detection unit  37  through the tube. Thus, the optical measurement is performed thereby to obtain the analysis result of the immunity analysis item. Thereafter, the shipper  34  is moved to the flow-cell inside washing position  36 , then sucks the washing solution for washing within the flow cell and flows the solution thus sucked through the tube to wash the flow cell. 
     Next, the configuration of the biochemical analyzing module used in the analyzing system according to the embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 3 , although the explanation is made as to the biochemical analyzing module  7  shown in  FIG. 1  as an example, the biochemical analyzing module  8  has the same configuration. 
     In the figure, portions identical to those of  FIG. 1  are referred to by the common symbols, with explanation thereof being omitted. 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the configuration of the biochemical analyzing module used in the analyzing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     The biochemical analyzing module  7  is provided with a reagent system which includes a first reagent disc  43  on which plural first reagents  41  are disposed in a circular manner, a second reagent disc  44  on which plural second reagents  42  are disposed in a circular manner and first and second reagent dispensing pipets  45 ,  46 ; a sample system having a sample dispensing pipet  47 ; a reaction system having plural reaction containers  50  disposed on a reaction disc  49  in which constant temperature liquid from a constant temperature bath  48  circulates; and a measurement system (analysis system) having a multi-wave photometer  52 . 
     The sample rack  30  holding the sample is led into a leading line  71 , and so the sample positioned at the sample sucking position is sucked by the sample dispensing pipet  47  and discharged into the reaction container  50  of the reaction disc  49  at a sample dispensing position. The reaction container  50  in which the sample was discharged is moved to a first reagent dispensing position. At the first reagent dispensing position, the first reagent  41  held by the first reagent disc  43  is dispensed into the reaction container  50  by the reagent dispensing pipet  45 . The reaction container  50  in which the first reagent was dispensed is moved to a stirring position. At the stirring position, a stirring device  53  stirs the sample and the first reagent within the reaction container  50 . 
     Further, when it is necessary to add the second reagent, the reaction container  50  having been subjected to the stirring process is moved to a second reagent dispensing position. At the second reagent dispensing position, the second reagent  42  held by the second reagent disc  44  is dispensed into the reaction container  50  by the reagent dispensing pipet  46 . The reaction container  50  in which the second reagent was dispensed is moved to a stirring position. At the stirring position, the stirring device  53  stirs the sample, the first reagent ‘A’nd the second reagent within the reaction container  50  to generate reaction solution. 
     The reaction container  50  in which the reaction solution is contained is moved to a measurement position. At the measurement position, the multi-wave photometer  52  measures the multi-wave absorbance of the reaction solution to obtain the analysis result of the biochemical analysis item. 
     Next, the explanation will be made with reference to  FIG. 4  as to the processing operation for making it possible to exchange reagent when an amount of the reagent becomes shortage in the automatic analyzing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, for example, the explanation will be made as to the exchange of reagent in the case where, during the execution of the automatic analyzing processing in the automatic analyzing system according to the embodiment, the remaining amount of a particular reagent of the analyzing module  5  becomes shortage and so it becomes impossible to continue the measurement of the reagent. In each of the other analyzing modules  6 ,  7  and  8 , the exchange of reagent is performed in the same manner in the case where the remaining amount of a reagent of the analyzing module becomes shortage and so it becomes impossible to continue the measurement of the reagent. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing the processing operation in the case where the remaining amount of a particular reagent in the automatic analyzing system according to the embodiment of the present invention becomes shortage and so it becomes impossible to continue the measurement of the reagent. 
       FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting the reagent exchange item at the operation unit  18  of the analyzing module according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     In step  401 , an item name of measurement for urging the exchange of the reagent is designated for the analyzing module, and a register button  500  is pushed thereby to set the reagent of the item name ‘A’ ( 502 ) as being designated. 
     In step  402 , when a analysis start button  501  is selected, the entire management computer  11  of the automatic analyzing system executes the usual routine analysis. 
     Then, in step  403 , each of the module computers  12  to  15  executes the analysis. 
     In step  404 , the module computer  12  determines whether or not an amount of the reagent for the item name ‘A’ becomes insufficient on the way of the analysis. When it is determined that the reagent does not become insufficient, the process returns to step  403  to continue the analysis at the module. In contrast, when it is determined that the reagent becomes insufficient, the process proceeds to step  405 . The following explanation will be made as to the case where the reagent for the item name ‘A’ become insufficient. The same operation will be made as to the case where the reagent for an item name  504  which is designated to be exchanged becomes insufficient. In contrast, when the reagent for an item name  505  which is not designated to be exchanged becomes insufficient, the analysis at the module is continued in step  403  and all the item names except for the item name  505  are analyzed. 
     In step  405 , the module computer  12  temporarily stops the analysis of a new sample at the module and continuously measures the item relating to the sample having been sucked already. Then, in step  406 , the samples having not been measured yet due to the temporal stop of the analysis are transferred to the sample rack stand-by unit  9 . 
     In step  407 , the entire management computer  11  of the automatic analyzing system registers the analyzing module  5  as an analyzing module necessary for exchange the reagent. Then, in step  408 , it is displayed on the display unit  19  that the exchange of the reagent ‘A’ is necessary. The following explanation will be made as to the case where the reagent becomes shortage at the analyzing module  5 . The display showing a state that the exchange of the reagent is necessary is made on the display unit  19  coupled to the entire management computer  11 , for example. The display unit  19  schematically displays the analyzing modules  5 , - - -,  8  etc. For example, when the reagent is required to be exchanged at the analyzing module  5 , the display  503  of the analyzing module  5  is changed into a blinking state of “pink” form a normally lightened state of “green”. 
     In step  409 , the exchange of the reagent ‘A’t the analyzing module  5  is made possible. During the execution of the operation of step  409 , the entire management computer  11  instructs the routine analysis to the analyzing modules  6  - - -,  8  thereby to continue the analysis. 
     In step  410 , the module computer  12  detects the completion of the exchange of the reagent in response to a signal from a detector  80  attached to the analyzing module  5  and confirms the remaining amount of the reagent thus exchanged based on a signal from a liquid surface detection sensor attached to the reagent dispensing pipet  32 . 
     In step  411 , the entire management computer  11  determines whether or not the remaining amount of the reagent for the item name ‘A’ is sufficient. When it is determined that the remaining amount is still shortage, the process returns to step  408  and it is displayed on the display unit  19  that the exchange of the reagent ‘A’ is necessary thereby to urge the exchange of the reagent ‘A’ again. In contrast, when the reagent is exchanged and there is sufficient remaining amount, the process proceeds to step  412 . 
     In step  412 , the entire management computer  11  registers the analyzing module  5  again as an analyzing module which has completed the exchange of the reagent. 
     In step  413 , the entire management computer  11  restores the analyzing module  5  to the automatic analyzing system as an analyzing module of the routine. 
     Further, in step  414 , the sample having been transferred to the sample rack stand-by unit  9  is moved to the analyzing module  5  and the measurement of this sample having been stopped is automatically re-started. 
     Although the explanation is made as to the case where a reagent for the item name ‘A’ becomes shortage, a reagent etc. necessary for analyzing the item name ‘A’ is not limited to one. That is, the aforesaid embodiment can also be applied when washing solution, dilution solution or pre-processing solution becomes shortage. To be more concrete, even when the remaining amount of the reagent for the item name ‘A’ is sufficient, when the remaining amount of one of the washing solution, the dilution solution and the pre-processing solution becomes shortage, the module computer  12  determines in step  404  that the remaining amount of one of the washing solution, the dilution solution and the pre-processing solution is shortage and so the process may proceed to step  405 . 
     As explained above, according to the embodiment, even when the remaining amount of a reagent to be analyzed becomes shortage at one of the plural analyzing modules, the reagent can be exchanged and continue the analysis without stopping the entire operation of the analyzing system. 
     Accordingly, the present invention can provide the analyzing system which can continue the analysis without reducing the analyzing efficiency of the entire system even when the remaining amount of a reagent becomes shortage at the analyzing module.