Patent Publication Number: US-2011077871-A1

Title: Analysis apparatus, information processing unit, and an information displaying method

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-226317 filed on Sep. 30, 2009, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an analysis apparatus for analyzing a clinical sample such as urine or blood, an information processing unit, and an information displaying method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-58532, as an automatic analysis apparatus for analyzing blood, urine or the like, an automatic analysis apparatus is described which operates a plurality of analysis units by a single apparatus operating section. This automatic analysis apparatus is configured such that the apparatus operating section issues an analysis request to each of the analysis units. 
     The automatic analysis apparatus described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-58532 has a problem in that it is difficult to know at a glance which one of the plurality of analysis units is associated with the information displayed on the apparatus operating section. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, an analysis apparatus comprising: a first measuring unit for measuring a clinical sample; a second measuring unit for measuring a clinical sample; and an information processing unit which is connected to the first and second measuring units so as to perform information communication with the first and second measuring units, wherein at least a part of the first measuring unit has a first color, at least a part of the second measuring unit has a second color which is different from the first color, and the information processing unit comprises: an information display section for displaying a first screen including information relating to the first measuring unit and a second screen including information relating to the second measuring unit; and a display controller for displaying at least a part of the first screen with the first color when displaying the first screen on the information display section, and for displaying at least a part of the second screen with the second color when displaying the second screen on the information display section. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, an analysis apparatus comprising: a first measuring unit for measuring a clinical sample; a second measuring unit for measuring a clinical sample; and an information processing unit which is connected to the first and second measuring units so as to perform information communication with the first and second measuring units, wherein the first measuring unit is provided with a first marker by which the first measuring unit can be visually recognized, the second measuring unit is provided with a second marker which is different from the first marker and by which the second measuring unit can be visually recognized, and the information processing unit comprises: an information display section for displaying information relating to the first measuring unit and information relating to the second measuring unit; and a display controller for displaying the first marker on the information display section in association with the information relating to the first measuring unit when displaying the information relating to the first measuring unit on the information display section, and for displaying the second marker on the information display section in association with the information relating to the second measuring unit when displaying the information relating to the second measuring unit on the information display section. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, an information processing unit which is connected to a first measuring unit for measuring a clinical sample and a second measuring unit for measuring a clinical sample so as to perform information communication with the first and second measuring units, comprising: an information display section for displaying information relating to the first measuring unit and information relating to the second measuring unit; and a display controller for displaying a first marker, by which the first measuring unit can be visually recognized, in association with the information relating to the first measuring unit on the information display section when displaying the information relating to the first measuring unit on the information display section, and for displaying a second marker, which is different from the first marker and by which the second measuring unit can be visually recognized, in association with the information relating to the second measuring unit on the information display section when displaying the information relating to the second measuring unit on the information display section, wherein the first measuring unit is provided with the first marker, and the second measuring unit is provided with the second marker. 
     According to a forth aspect of the present invention, an information displaying method used on a computer connected to a first measuring unit for measuring a clinical sample and a second measuring unit for measuring a clinical sample so as to perform information communication with the first and second measuring units, the first measuring unit is provided with a first marker, by which the first measuring unit can be visually recognized, and the second measuring unit is provided with a second marker, which is different from the first marker and by which the second measuring unit can be visually recognized, the method comprising: displaying on a display of the computer the first marker in association with the information relating to the first measuring unit when displaying the information relating to the first measuring unit; and displaying on the display the second marker in association with the information relating to the second measuring unit when displaying the information relating to the second measuring unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view showing the schematic configuration of a clinical sample analysis apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a measuring unit of the clinical sample analysis apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic configuration diagram of a WBC detection section according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing unit of the clinical sample analysis apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of a device information storage section according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  shows flowcharts showing the processing procedures of the measuring units and the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  shows flowcharts showing the processing procedures of the measuring units and the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  shows flowcharts showing the processing procedures of the measuring units and the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  shows flowcharts showing the processing procedures of the measuring units and the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the procedure of a color change process of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an initial screen which is displayed on a display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 12A  is a diagram showing a menu screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 12B  is a diagram showing a menu screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 12C  is a diagram showing a menu screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram showing a measurement section setting screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 14A  is a diagram showing a measurement section help window which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 14B  is a diagram showing a measurement section help window which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 14C  is a diagram showing a measurement section help window which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 15A  is a diagram showing a measurement item registration screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 15B  is a diagram showing a measurement item registration screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 15C  is a diagram showing a measurement item registration screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 16A  is a diagram showing an analysis result screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 16B  is a diagram showing an analysis result screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 16C  is a diagram showing an analysis result screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram showing a state screen which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram showing an example of the screen configuration which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram showing an example of the screen configuration which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram showing an example of the screen configuration which is displayed on the display section of the information processing unit according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view showing the schematic configuration of a clinical sample analysis apparatus  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the clinical sample analysis apparatus  1  of this embodiment includes measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  which are blood cell counting devices, an information processing unit  3  and a sample transport device  50 . For example, the measuring unit  21  measures blood and obtains measurement data for calculating the number of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC) and platelets (PLT) and the like. The information processing unit  3  has a function of obtaining the analysis result by processing the measurement data output from the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23 . The sample transport device  50  automatically supplies samples to the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  by an instruction from the information processing unit  3 . The information processing unit  3  has a personal computer and is connected to the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  via a communication cable  3   a  so as to communicate therewith. The sample transport device  50  includes a sample input unit  51  which stores sample racks in which measurement has not yet been performed, transport units  52   a,    52   b  and  52   c  for transporting sample racks containing samples to the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23 , and a sample storage unit  53  for storing sample racks in which measurement has been performed. The transport unit  52   a  includes a transport passage  521   a  for transporting samples, which are to be measured, to the measuring unit  21 , and a transport passage  522   a  for transporting samples, which are not to be measured by the measuring unit  21 , to the transport unit  52   b  or  52   c  or the sample storage unit  53 . Each of the transport units  52   b  and  52   c  has the same configuration as that of the transport unit  52   a.    
     In upper right portions of the front faces of the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23 , light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a  are provided for identifying each of the measuring units by color. The respective light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a  have a three-color LED. The three-color LED is embedded with a red-color LED chip (R), a green-color LED chip (G) and a blue-color LED chip (B) in one package. As the three-color LED, for example, the trade name “full color LED (type name: NSTM515)”, manufactured by Nichia CORPORATION, can be used. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the measuring unit  21 . The measuring unit  21  includes a specimen supply section  4 , a WBC detection section  5 , a RBC detection section  6 , a HGB detection section  7 , a control section  8 , a communication section  9 , an LED driving circuit  10 , the light-emitting section  21   a  and a sensor  11 . In this embodiment, each of the measuring units  22  and  23  has the same configuration as that of the measuring unit  21 , except that the light-emitting sections  22   a  and  23   a  emit light in colors different from that of the light-emitting section  21   a.  Accordingly, when describing the measuring units  22  and  23  below, the same configurations as those of the measuring unit  21  will be described by using the same reference numbers as those of the measuring unit  21 . 
     The control section  8  includes a CPU  82  and a memory  83  having a ROM and a RAM and controls operations of the various constituent elements of the measuring unit  21 . In addition, the memory  83  of the measuring unit  21  stores device information including a device ID 11001 of the measuring unit  21 . The memory  83  of the measuring unit  22  stores device information of the measuring unit  22  including a device ID 11002 and the memory  83  of the measuring unit  23  stores device information of the measuring unit  23  including a device ID 11003. Further, the memory  83  stores error IDs which are information for specifying errors. 
     The LED driving circuit  10  is a circuit for causing the light-emitting section  21   a  to emit light in a predetermined color by controlling voltages which are supplied to the LED chips of three colors of the light-emitting section  21   a.  The light-emitting section  21   a  can display colors which indicate color information stored in the memory  83  by the LED driving circuit  10 . 
     The communication section  9  is, for example, a RS-232C interface, a USB interface or an Ethernet (registered name) interface, and can transmit and receive data to and from the information processing unit  3 . 
     The sensor  11  indicates a plurality of sensors which are provided in the various constituent elements of the measuring unit  21  in order to monitor operation circumstances of the measuring unit  21 . For example, in the specimen supply section  4 , a sensor for detecting whether or not a pipette is positioned at an initial position and a sensor for detecting whether or not a pipette is positioned at a measurement specimen aspiration position are provided. On the basis of the output of these sensors, the CPU  82  monitors whether or not a pipette has moved to the measurement specimen aspiration position from the initial position within a predetermined length of time. 
     The specimen supply section  4  includes a pipette for aspirating a sample from a sample container, a mixing container for mixing a sample with a reagent, a pump for supplying a sample and a reagent to the mixing container and the like. The specimen supply section  4  aspirates blood, prepares specimens from the aspirated blood which are to be provided for the measurement of red blood cells, the measurement of platelets and the measurement of hemoglobin, and supplies the prepared specimens to the RBC detection section  6  and the HGB detection section  7 . In addition, the specimen supply section  4  mixes the aspirated blood and a reagent (hemolyzing agent, stain solution), prepares specimens which are to be provided for the measurement of white blood cells, and supplies the prepared specimens to the WBC detection section  5 . 
     The WBC detection section  5  is an optical detection section capable of performing WBC measurement (measurement of the number of white blood cells) and DIFF measurement (white blood cell classification). The WBC detection section  5  can perform WBC measurement and DIFF measurement by a flow cytometry method using a semiconductor laser. The configuration of the WBC detection section  5  will be described later in detail. WBC measurement is a measurement operation for counting the number of white blood cells and calculating the concentration of white blood cells in a specimen. DIFF measurement is a measurement operation for classifying white blood cells into lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes and the like and calculating the concentration of each in specimens. 
     The RBC detection section  6  is a RBC/PLT detection section for performing RBC measurement (measurement of the number of red blood cells) and PLT measurement (measurement of the number of platelets). This RBC detection section  6  can perform RBC and PLT measurement by a sheath flow DC detection method. 
     The HGB detection section  7  is a HGB detection section for performing HGB measurement (measurement of hemoglobin content in blood). This HGB detection section  7  can perform HGB measurement by a SLS-hemoglobin method. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the configuration of the WBC detection section  5 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the WBC detection section  5  includes a laser diode  501 , a collimator lens  502 , a sheath flow cell  503 , a condenser lens  504 , a pinhole plate  505 , a photo diode  506 , a condenser lens  507 , a dichroic mirror  508 , a photo multiplier tube (hereinafter, referred to as PMT)  512 , a filter  509 , a pinhole plate  510 , a photo multiplier tube (hereinafter, referred to as PMT)  511  and amplifiers  61  to  63 . 
     The measurement specimen supplied from the specimen supply section  4  (see  FIG. 2 ) flows through the sheath flow cell  503 . The measurement specimen flowing through the sheath flow cell  503  is irradiated with the light emitted from the laser diode  501  via the collimator lens  502 . The light (forward-scattered light) scattered forward by the measurement specimen flowing through the sheath flow cell  503  enters the photo diode  506  via the condenser lens  504  and the pinhole plate  505 . The light (side-scattered light) scattered laterally by the measurement specimen flowing through the sheath flow cell  503  enters the PMT  512  via the condenser lens  507  and the dichroic mirror  508 . 
     By the irradiation of the light, the fluorescence emitted from the measurement specimen flowing through the sheath flow cell  503  enters the PMT  511  via the condenser lens  507 , the dichroic mirror  508 , the filter  509  and the pinhole plate  510 . The photo diode  506  converts the incident forward-scattered light into electric information according to the strength thereof and outputs the information as the strength of the forward-scattered light. The PMT  512  converts the incident side-scattered light into electric information according to the strength thereof and outputs the information as the strength of the side-scattered light. The PMT  511  converts the incident fluorescence into electric information according to the strength thereof and outputs the information as the strength of the fluorescence. The strength of the forward-scattered light output from the photo diode  506 , the strength of the fluorescence output from the PMT  511  and the strength of the side-scattered light output from the PMT  512  are amplified by the amplifiers  61 ,  62  and  63 , respectively, and input to the control section  8 . 
     Basically, each of the measuring units  22  and  23  has the same configuration as that of the measuring unit  21 , and thus the description of the configuration of the measuring units  22  and  23 , which is the same as the configuration of the measuring unit  21 , will be omitted. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing unit  3  of the clinical sample analysis apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the information processing unit  3  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  31 , a RAM  32 , a storage device  33 , an input device  34 , a display device  35 , an output device  36 , a communication interface  37  and an internal bus  38  for connecting the above-described hardware to each other. The CPU  31  is connected to the above-described hardware of the information processing unit  3  via the internal bus  38  and controls operations of the above-described hardware. In addition, the CPU  31  executes various software functions in accordance with computer programs stored in a program storage section  331  of the storage device  33 . The RAM  32  has a volatile memory such as a SRAM or a SDRAM. A load module is developed during the executing of a computer program, and temporary data and the like generated during the executing of the computer program are stored in the RAM  32 . 
     The storage device  33  has an embedded fixed storage device (hard disk). The storage device  33  includes the program storage section  331  and a device information storage section  332 . In the program storage section  331 , various computer programs for execution in the CPU  31 , such as operating systems and application programs, and data for use in execution of the computer programs are installed. For example, application programs for registering measurement items and application programs for obtaining or displaying information on errors of the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  are installed in the program storage section  331 . In addition, in the device information storage section  332 , the device information of the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  is stored.  FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the device information storage section  332 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , as device information corresponding to the measuring unit  21 , device ID: 11001, product code: AA000001, device name: XE-1 and color information: blue are stored. As device information corresponding to the measuring unit  22 , device ID: 11002, product code: AA000001, device name: XE-2 and color information: green are stored. As device information corresponding to the measuring unit  23 , device ID: 11003, product code: AA000001, device name: XE-3 and color information: orange are stored. 
     In addition, in the storage device  33 , information on aspects (error names, places at which errors occur, error recovery methods and the like) of various errors which can occur in the devices is stored in advance. 
     The communication interface  37  is connected to the internal bus  38  and is connected to the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  via the communication cable  3   a  to transmit and receive data. That is, the communication interface  37  transmits instruction information and the like indicting the start of the measurement to the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  and receives measurement data and the like. 
     The input device  34  is a data input medium such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display device  35  is a display device such as a CRT monitor or a LCD and displays the analysis result on the screen. The output device  36  is a printing device such as a laser printer or an inkjet printer. 
     The information processing unit  3  executes a computer program of the program storage section  331  by the CPU  31  to process the measurement data received from the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  and calculate the number of white blood cells (WBC), the number of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) content, hematocrit (HCT), average red blood cell volume (MCV), average red blood cell hemoglobin content (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), the number of platelets (PLT) and the like. 
     Hereinafter, operations of the clinical sample analysis apparatus  1  according to this embodiment will be described. In the drawings, for the sake of convenience, the blue color is expressed by the downward diagonal stroke from top left to bottom right, the green color is expressed by the upward diagonal stroke from bottom left to top right, and the orange color is expressed by the vertical line. 
       FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9  are flowcharts showing the processing procedures of the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  21 , the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  22  and the CPU  31  of the information processing unit  3  according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, processes of the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  21  and the CPU  31  of the information processing unit  3  will be described. 
     First, when a power supply of the information processing unit  3  is turned on by the operation of a user, the CPU  31  displays an initial screen  35   a  shown in  FIG. 11  on the display device  35  of the information processing unit  3  (S 2 - 1 ). As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the initial screen  35   a,  an icon  821  for displaying a menu screen  211   a  of the measuring unit  21 , an icon  822  for displaying a menu screen  211   b  of the measuring unit  22  and an icon  823  for displaying a menu screen  211   c  of the measuring unit  23  are provided. 
     Next, when the icon  821 ,  822  or  823  is clicked by the operation of the user, the CPU  31  receives a display instruction of the menu screen corresponding to the clicked icon (S 2 - 2 ). The CPU  31  retrieves device information of the measuring unit corresponding to the clicked icon from the device information storage section  332 , and displays the menu screen  211   a,    211   b  or  211   c  colorized with a color corresponding to the color information included in the corresponding device information (S 2 - 3 ). 
       FIG. 12A  is a diagram showing an example of the menu screen  211   a  of the measuring unit  21 . As shown in  FIG. 12A , in the menu screen  211   a,  a title bar  91   a,  a tool bar  92   a,  a function display area  93   a  and the like are provided. The title bar  91   a  is displayed with a color corresponding to the color information obtained from the device information storage section  332  and a device name is displayed at the left end of the title bar  91   a.  In greater detail, the title bar  91   a  is displayed with the blue color, and XE-1, which is a device name, is displayed at the left end of the title bar  91   a.  In addition, in the tool bar  92   a,  a registration button  921 , a measurement start button  922 , an analysis result button  923 , a menu button  924 , a state screen button  925  and the like are provided. In the function display area  93   a,  a measurement registration icon  931  for displaying a measurement item registration screen  212   a  shown in  FIG. 15A , a shutdown icon  932 , a setting icon  933  for displaying a measurement section setting screen  61   a  shown in  FIG. 13  and the like are provided. 
       FIG. 12B  is a diagram showing an example of the menu screen  211   b  of the measuring unit  22 , and  FIG. 12C  is a diagram showing an example of the menu screen  211   c  of the measuring unit  23 . Since the basic configuration of the menu screens  211   b  and  211   c  is the same as that of the menu screen  211   a,  a description thereof will be omitted. However, unlike the menu screen  211   a,  a title bar  91   b  of the menu screen  211   b  is displayed with the green color, and XE-2, which is a device name, is displayed at the left end of the title bar  91   b.  A title bar  91   c  of the menu screen  211   c  is displayed with the orange color, and XE-3, which is a device name, is displayed at the left end of the title bar  91   c.    
     When a power supply of the measuring unit  21  is turned on by the operation of the user, the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  21  transmits the device ID: 11001 which is stored in the memory  83  of the measuring unit  21 , reagent information which is installed in the measuring unit  21  and the like as device information to the information processing unit  3  via the communication section  9  (S 1 - 1 ). 
     When the memory  83  stores color information indicating the color of the light emitted by the light-emitting section  21   a,  the CPU  82  also transmits the color information as device information to the information processing unit  3 . 
     The CPU  31  of the information processing unit  3  determines whether or not the device information has been received via the communication interface  37  (S 2 - 4 ). When the device information has been received, it is determined whether or not color information is included in the received device information (S 2 - 5 ). 
     When the color information is included in the device information, the CPU  31  transmits a device information reception completion notice to the measuring unit  21  (S 2 - 7 ). When the color information is not included in the device information, the CPU  31  performs a retrieval operation within the device information storage section  332  on the basis of the received device information to obtain the color information which is blue corresponding to the measuring unit  21  (S 2 - 6 ), and transmits a device information reception completion notice with the obtained color information to the measuring unit  21  via the communication interface  37  (S 2 - 7 ). 
     The CPU  82  of the measuring unit  21  determines whether or not the device information reception completion notice has been received via the communication section  9  (S 1 - 2 ). When the device information reception completion notice is received, the CPU  82  causes the light-emitting section  21   a  to emit light (S 1 - 3 ). When color information is not included in the device information reception completion notice received in Step  1 - 2 , the CPU  82  causes the light-emitting section  21   a  to emit light in a color indicated by the color information stored in the memory  83 . In addition, when color information which is blue is included in the received device information reception completion notice, the CPU  82  stores the received color information as device information in the memory  83  and causes the light-emitting section  21   a  to emit light in blue by controlling the LED driving circuit  10 . 
     The CPU  31  of the information processing unit  3  determines whether or not the measurement section setting screen  61   a  shown in  FIG. 13  is displayed on the display device  35  (S 2 - 8 ). When the measurement section setting screen  61   a  is displayed, the CPU  31  advances the process to Step  2 - 11 , and when the measurement section setting screen  61   a  is not displayed, the CPU determines whether or not a display instruction of the measurement section setting screen  61   a  has been received (S 2 - 9 ). When the display instruction of the measurement section setting screen  61   a  has not been received, the CPU  31  advances the process to Step  2 - 12 , and when the display instruction has been received, the CPU displays the measurement section setting screen  61   a  (S 2 - 10 ). 
     The display instruction of the measurement section setting screen  61   a  is issued by selecting the setting icon  933  in the menu screen  211   a  of  FIG. 12 . Also in the menu screens  211   b  and  211   c,  the display instruction of the measurement section setting screen  61   a  is issued in the same manner as in the menu screen  211   a.    
     In the measurement section setting screen  61   a  shown in  FIG. 13 , a menu tree display area  611  including a device identification item  611   a,  a device identification setting menu  612  including color information switching buttons  612   a,    612   b  and  612   c  and an OK button  613  are provided. In the measurement section setting screen  61   a,  the device identification setting menu  612  is displayed by selecting the device identification item  611   a  of the menu tree display area  611 . 
     The color change process of Step S 2 - 11  will be described by using  FIG. 10 . The CPU  31  determines whether or not the setting of color information has been received (S 4 - 1 ), and when the setting of color information has been received, the CPU updates the color information stored in the device information storage section  332  (S 4 - 2 ). 
     The setting of color information is performed in the following procedure. First, when the color information switching button  612   a  is clicked, a pull-down menu is displayed. Next, one color information is selected among the color information displayed in the pull-down menu, and the OK button  613  is clicked, whereby the setting of color information is completed. When changing color information of the measuring unit  22 , the color information switching button  612   b  is used, and when changing color information of the measuring unit  23 , the color information switching button  612   c  is used. 
     Next, the CPU  31  changes the colors which are displayed in the screens for the measuring units (S 4 - 3 ). Here, “the screens for the measuring units” is a generic term including a state screen  71   a  shown in  FIG. 17  and the screens displayed for each measuring unit. For example, when the color assigned for the measuring unit  21  is changed, the color displayed in the title bars  91   a  of the menu screen  211   a  shown in  FIG. 12 , measurement item registration screen  212   a  shown in  FIG. 15  and analysis result screen  213   a  shown in  FIG. 16 , a title bar  511   a  of a measurement section help window  510   a  shown in  FIG. 14  and an icon  721  of the state screen  71   a  shown in  FIG. 17  is changed. Since the colors assigned for the measuring units  22  and  23  are changed in the same manner as in the case of the measuring unit  21 , a description thereof will be omitted. 
     Next, the CPU  31  transmits an LED lighting color change instruction including the changed color information to the measuring unit  21  via the communication interface  37  (S 4 - 4 ). 
     In  FIG. 7 , the CPU  82  determines whether or not the LED lighting color change instruction has been received (S 1 - 4 ). When the instruction has not been received, the CPU advances the process to Step  1 - 6 , and when the instruction has been received, the CPU changes the color which is emitted by the light-emitting section  21   a  by controlling the LED driving circuit  10  on the basis of the received color information, and updates the color information of the device information stored in the memory  83  (S 1 - 5 ). 
     The CPU  82  determines whether or not the sensor  11  has detected an error (S 1 - 6 ). When no error has been detected, the CPU advances the process to Step  1 - 8 , and when an error has been detected, the CPU reads a corresponding error ID from the memory  83  to generate error information including the device ID and the error ID, and transmits the error information to the information processing unit  3  via the communication section  9  (S 1 - 7 ). 
     The CPU  31  of the information processing unit  3  determines whether or not the error information has been received (S 2 - 12 ). When the error information has not been received, the CPU advances the process to Step  2 - 14 , and when the error information has been received, the CPU displays the measurement section help window  510   a  shown in  FIG. 14  so as to overlap on the screen which is displayed beforehand on the display device  35  (S 2 - 13 ). At that time, the CPU  31  controls a speaker (not shown) so as to sound an alarm. 
       FIG. 14A  is a diagram showing an example of the measurement section help window  510   a  of the measuring unit  21 . In the measurement section help window  510   a,  the title bar  511   a,  an error list (error name display area)  512   a,  an action display area (recovery operation display area)  513   a  and the like are provided. The title bar  511   a  is displayed with the blue color on the basis of the color information obtained from the device information storage section  332 . In the error list  512   a,  one or a plurality of detected error names are displayed. In  FIG. 14A , three error names are displayed so as to be vertically arranged in the error list  512   a.  In this error list  512   a,  the error names are displayed in order of high priority. In the action display area  513   a,  an action message corresponding to an error selected in the error list  512   a  is displayed. Here, the action message mainly relates to an error recovery method and a procedure for recovering the error is shown as a document (text). 
     In an initial state immediately after the popping-up of the measurement section help window  510   a,  the error name in the uppermost portion in the error list  512   a  is selected. An action message corresponding to the selected error name is displayed in the action display area  513   a.  When the user selects another error name, an action message corresponding to the error name is displayed in the action display area  513   a.    
       FIG. 14B  is a diagram showing a measurement section help window  510   b  of the measuring unit  22  and  FIG. 14C  is a diagram showing a measurement section help window  510   c  of the measuring unit  23 . Since the basic configuration of the measurement section help windows  510   b  and  510   c  is the same as that of the measurement section help window  510   a,  a description thereof will be omitted. However, unlike the measurement section help window  510   a,  a title bar  511   b  of the measurement section help window  510   b  is displayed with the green color and a title bar  511   c  of the measurement section help window  510   c  is displayed with the orange color. 
     When a button  514   a  of the measurement section help window  510   a  is selected, the CPU  31  completes the process of displaying the measurement section help window, advances the process to Step  2 - 14 , and determines whether or not the measurement item registration screen  212   a  shown in  FIG. 15A  is displayed on the display device  35  (S 2 - 14 ). 
       FIG. 15A  is a diagram showing an example of the measurement item registration screen  212   a  of the measuring unit  21 . In the measurement item registration screen  212   a,  the title bar  91   a,  the tool bar  92   a,  the function display area  93   a  and the like are provided. The title bar  91   a  is displayed with the blue color on the basis of the color information obtained from the device information storage section  332  and XE-1, which is a device name, is displayed at the left area of the title bar  91   a.  In the tool bar  92   a,  the registration button  921 , the measurement start button  922 , the analysis result button  923 , the menu button  924 , the state screen button  925  and the like are provided. In the function display area  93   a,  a sample number input area  10   a,  a measurement item selection button  10   b  and the like are provided. 
       FIG. 15B  is a diagram showing a measurement item registration screen  212   b  of the measuring unit  22  and  FIG. 15C  is a diagram showing a measurement item registration screen  212   c  of the measuring unit  23 . Since the basic configuration of the measurement item registration screens  212   b  and  212   c  is the same as that of the measurement item registration screen  212   a,  a description thereof will be omitted. However, unlike the measurement item registration screen  212   a,  the title bar  91   b  of the measurement item registration screen  212   b  is displayed with the green color and XE-2, which is a device name, is displayed therein. The title bar  91   c  of the measurement item registration screen  212   c  is displayed with the orange color and XE-3, which is a device name, is displayed therein. 
     In  FIG. 8 , when the measurement item registration screen  212   a  is not displayed, the CPU  31  determines whether or not a measurement item registration screen display instruction has been received (S 2 - 15 ). When the measurement item registration screen display instruction has not been received, the CPU advances the process to Step  2 - 20 , and when the measurement item registration screen display instruction has been received, the CPU displays the measurement item registration screen  212   a  shown in  FIG. 15A  (S 2 - 16 ). The measurement item registration screen  212   a  is displayed in the function display area  93   a  of  FIG. 12A  by selecting the measurement registration icon  931  of the menu screen  211   a  with the user using a mouse. 
     The CPU  31  determines whether or not the input of measurement items has been received in the measurement item registration screen  212   a  (S 2 - 17 ). When the input of measurement items has not been received, the CPU advances the process to Step  2 - 20 , and when the input of measurement items has been received, the CPU determines whether or not a measurement start instruction has been received (S 2 - 18 ). 
     When the measurement start instruction has not been received, the CPU  31  advances the process to Step  2 - 20 , and when the measurement start instruction has been received, the CPU  31  transmits the measurement start instruction to the measuring unit  21  (S 2 - 19 ). The measurement start instruction is issued by selecting the measurement start button  922  provided in the tool bar  92   a  of the measurement item registration screen  212   a.    
     The CPU  82  of the measuring unit  21  determines whether or not the measuring unit  21  has received the measurement start instruction (S 1 - 8 ). When the measurement start instruction has not been received, the CPU advances the process to Step  1 - 11 , and when the measurement start instruction has been received, the CPU  82  controls the specimen supply section  4 , the WBC detection section  5 , the RBC detection section  6  and the HGB detection section so as to measure the sample (S 1 - 9 ). 
     In this embodiment, in Step  1 - 9 , the following process is performed. First, the CPU  82  causes the specimen supply section  4  to prepare a measurement specimen for red blood cell and platelet measurement (hereinafter, referred to as “RBC/PLT measurement specimen”), a measurement specimen for white blood cell measurement (hereinafter, referred to as “WBC measurement specimen”) and a measurement specimen for hemoglobin measurement (hereinafter, referred to as “HGB measurement specimen”). Next, the CPU  82  controls the WBC detection section  5 , the RBC detection section  6  and the HGB detection section so as to measure the RBC/PLT measurement specimen, the WBC measurement specimen and the HGB measurement specimen, respectively. 
     Next, the CPU  82  transmits measurement data to the information processing unit  3  via the communication section  9  (S 1 - 10 ). Here, the measurement data is measurement data which is obtained by measuring, for example, the WBC measurement specimen in the WBC detection section  5 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the CPU  31  of the information processing unit  3  determines whether or not the measurement data has been received (S 2 - 20 ). When the measurement data has been received, the CPU  31  executes a classification and counting process of particles included in the measurement specimen on the basis of the measurement data received by the information processing unit  3  (S 2 - 21 ). 
     In  FIG. 9 , the CPU  31  determines whether or not the analysis result screen  213   a  shown in  FIG. 16A  is displayed on the display device  35  (S 2 - 22 ). When the analysis result screen  213   a  is not displayed, the CPU determines whether or not a display instruction of the analysis result screen has been received (S 2 - 23 ), and when the display instruction has been received, the CPU displays the analysis result screen  213   a  in the function display area  93   a  of  FIG. 12A  (S 2 - 24 ). 
       FIG. 16A  is a diagram showing an example of the analysis result screen  213   a  of the measuring unit  21 . In the analysis result screen  213   a,  the title bar  91   a,  the tool bar  92   a,  the function display area  93   a  and the like are provided. The title bar  91   a  is displayed with the blue color on the basis of the color information obtained from the device information storage section  332  and XE-1, which is a device name, is displayed at the left area thereof In the tool bar  92   a,  the registration button  921 , the measurement start button  922 , the analysis result button  923 , the menu button  924 , the state screen button  925  and the like are provided. In the function display area  93   a,  a sample information display area  11   a  for displaying a sample number and the like, a measurement result display area  11   b  for displaying numerical data of the measurement result and the like are provided. 
       FIG. 16B  is a diagram showing an analysis result screen  213   b  of the measuring unit  22  and  FIG. 16C  is a diagram showing an analysis result screen  213   c  of the measuring unit  23 . Since the basic configuration of the analysis result screens  213   b  and  213   c  is the same as that of the analysis result screen  213   a,  a description thereof will be omitted. However, unlike the analysis result screen  213   a,  the title bar  91   b  of the analysis result screen  213   b  is displayed with the green color and XE-2, which is a device name, is displayed therein. The title bar  91   c  of the analysis result screen  213   c  is displayed with the orange color and XE-3, which is a device name, is displayed therein. 
     The analysis result screen display instruction is issued by selecting the analysis result button  923  displayed in the tool bar  92   a  of the menu screen  211   a  or the measurement item registration screen  212   a  with the user using a mouse. The analysis result screen  213   a  is displayed in the function display area  93   a  of  FIG. 12A . 
     The CPU  31  determines whether or not the state screen  71   a  shown in  FIG. 17  is displayed on the display device  35  (S 2 - 25 ). When the state screen  71   a  is not displayed, the CPU determines whether or not a state screen display instruction has been received (S 2 - 26 ), and when the state screen display instruction has been received, the CPU displays the state screen  71   a  on the display device  35  (S 2 - 27 ). 
       FIG. 17  is a diagram showing an example of the state screen  71   a.  As shown in  FIG. 17 , in the state screen  71   a,  the icon  721  showing the measuring unit  21  which is connected to the information processing unit  3 , an icon  722  showing the measuring unit  22 , an icon  723  showing the measuring unit  23 , a state display area  721   a  for displaying a state of the measuring unit  21 , a state display area  722   a  for displaying a state of the measuring unit  22  and a state display area  723   a  for displaying a state of the measuring unit  23  are provided. The icon  721  is displayed with the blue color on the basis of the color information obtained from the device information storage section  332 , and XE-1, which is a device name, is displayed therein. Similarly, the icon  722  is displayed with the green color and XE-2, which is a device name, is displayed therein, and the icon  723  is displayed with the orange color and XE-3, which is a device name, is displayed therein. 
     The state screen display instruction is issued by selecting the state screen button  925  displayed in the tool bar  92   a  of the menu screen  211   a,  the measurement item registration screen  212   a  or the analysis result screen  213   a  with the user using a mouse. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the CPU  31  determines whether or not a shutdown instruction has been received (S 2 - 28 ). When the shutdown instruction has not been received, the CPU returns the process to Step  2 - 8 , and when the shutdown instruction has been received, the CPU  31  transmits a shutdown signal to the measuring unit  21  via the communication interface  37  (S 2 - 29 ). 
     In this embodiment, the shutdown instruction is executed by selecting the shutdown icon  932  of the menu screen  211   a.  The display of the menu screen  211   a  is executed by selecting the menu buttons  924  of the tool bars  92   a  provided in the measurement item registration screen  212   a  and the analysis result screen  213   a.    
     In  FIG. 9 , the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  21  determines whether or not the measuring unit  21  has received the shutdown signal (S 1 - 11 ). When the shutdown signal has not been received, the CPU returns the process to Step  1 - 4 , and when the shutdown signal has been received, the CPU  82  executes a shutdown process of the measuring unit  21  (S 1 - 12 ). 
     When the shutdown process is completed, the CPU  82  transmits a shutdown completion notice to the information processing unit  3  via the communication section  9  (S 1 - 13 ), and completes the process. 
     The CPU  31  of the information processing unit  3  determines whether or not the shutdown completion notice has been received (S 2 - 30 ), and when the shutdown completion notice has been received, the CPU completes the process. 
     The processes of the CPU  31  of the information processing unit  3  and the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  21  have been described as above on the basis of the flowcharts of  FIGS. 6 to 9 . However, since the process (S 3 - 1  to S 3 - 13 ) of the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  22  is performed in the same manner as in the process of the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  21 , a description thereof will be omitted. In addition, since the process of the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  23  is performed in the same manner as in the process of the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  21 , flowcharts and a description of the process of the CPU  82  of the measuring unit  23  will be omitted. 
     In this embodiment, as described above, the light-emitting section  21   a  emits light in blue, and the title bars  91   a  and  511   a  are displayed with the blue color. The light-emitting section  22   a  emits light in green, and the title bars  91   b  and  511   b  are displayed with the green color. The light-emitting section  23   a  emits light in orange, and the title bars  91   c  and  511   c  are displayed with the orange color. Accordingly, the user can easily recognize the correspondence between the measuring unit and the information displayed in the screen which is displayed for each measuring unit by color. In this manner, when a portion displaying an indicator is made as a part of the screen, the area which displays information relating to the measuring unit other than the information which is the indicator can be widely maintained on the same screen. 
     Further, in this embodiment, the icon  721  of the state screen  71   a  of  FIG. 17  is displayed with the same blue color as that of the light-emitting section  21   a,  the icon  722  is displayed with the same green color as that of the light-emitting section  22   a,  and the icon  723  is displayed with the same orange color as that of the light-emitting section  23   a.  Accordingly, the user can easily recognize the correspondence between the icon and the measuring unit by color. 
     In this embodiment, the information processing unit  3  has a configuration to change colors which are displayed in the light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a  of the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  in the measurement section setting screen  61   a.  Accordingly, the user can save time and effort for setting color information which is displayed for each individual measuring unit. 
     In this embodiment, the information processing unit  3  has a configuration to change colors of the title bars  91   a,    91   b  and  91   c  and the title bars  511   a,    511   b  and  511   c  in the measurement section setting screen  61   a.  Accordingly, the user can decide a color corresponding to the measuring unit and the screen which is displayed for each measuring unit, and thus can easily recognize the correspondence between the measuring unit and the information displayed on the screen which is displayed for each measuring unit. Similarly, the information processing unit  3  has a configuration to change colors which are displayed in the icons  721 ,  722  and  723 . Accordingly, the user can decide a color corresponding to the measuring unit and the icon, and thus can easily recognize the correspondence between the measuring unit and the icon. 
     As in this embodiment, when an LED capable of displaying a plurality of colors is used in the light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a,  one LED is necessary. Accordingly, when an LED capable of displaying a plurality of colors is used in the light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a,  a space for providing the light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a  can be reduced compared to the case in which a plurality of LEDs capable of displaying only one color are used or a display is used in the light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a.    
     The embodiment of the present invention can be variously and appropriately changed within the scope of the technical thought shown in the claims. 
     In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which a blood cell counting device is applied to the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to another clinical sample analysis apparatus, such as a urine analysis apparatus, a blood coagulation measurement apparatus, an immunity analysis apparatus, a biochemical analysis apparatus or a genetic amplification measurement apparatus. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the light-emitting section is used as an indicator display section of each measuring unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and a configuration can also be made in which the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  have a display and a picture or a device name can be used as an indicator. When the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  have a display, not only a color or only a picture may be used as an indicator, but a combination of some information, such as a combination of color and text information or a combination of picture and text information, also may be used as an indicator. In addition, as an indicator display section of each measuring unit, housings of the measuring sections may be constituted by housings which each have different colors, and a device name or a picture indicating a device may be displayed in advance in each housing. Seals having different colors may be adhered to the housings. In these cases, when a service man installs the devices, the color, device name, picture and the like of each measuring unit may be registered as device information which is stored in the device information storage section  332  of the information processing unit  3 . 
     In the above-described embodiment, the menu screen, the measurement registration screen, the analysis result screen and the measurement section help window are shown as screens for displaying information relating to the measuring unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and other screens for displaying information relating to the measuring unit, such as a patient registration screen for registering patient information, a doctor registration screen for registering names of doctors, a ward registration screen for registering names of wards and an accuracy management screen for displaying information for determining whether or not accuracy management is normally carried out, may be used. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the screens shown in  FIGS. 12 ,  14 ,  15  and  16  are shown as the screens which are displayed for each measuring unit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and as shown in  FIGS. 18 ,  19  and  20 , a screen may be used having a configuration in which the display area in one screen is divided into display areas for each measuring unit. For example, in a screen  41  shown in  FIG. 18 , an indicator display area  41   a  for displaying an indicator of the measuring unit  21 , an indicator display area  41   b  for displaying an indicator of the measuring unit  22 , an indicator display area  41   c  for displaying an indicator of the measuring unit  23 , an information display area  411   a  for displaying information relating to the measuring unit  21 , an information display area  411   b  for displaying information relating to the measuring unit  22 , and an information display area  411   c  for displaying information relating to the measuring unit  23  are provided. The indicator display area  41   a  is displayed with the blue color on the basis of color information obtained from the device information storage section  332 , and XE-1, which is a device name, is displayed at the left area thereof. In the information display area  411   a,  for example, information which is displayed in the function display areas  93   a  shown in  FIGS. 12 ,  15  and  16 , information which is displayed in the error list  512   a  and the action display area  513   a  shown in  FIG. 14  and the like are shown. As in the indicator display area  41   a,  the indicator display area  41   b  is displayed with the green color and XE-2, which is a device name, is displayed therein. In addition, the indicator display area  41   c  is displayed with the orange color and XE-3, which is a device name, is displayed therein. 
       FIGS. 18 ,  19  and  20  show examples of the screen configuration. The reference numbers  42   a  and  43   a  correspond to the indicator display area  41   a  and the reference numbers  422   a  and  433   a  correspond to the information display area  411   a.  Similarly, the reference number  41   b  corresponds to the reference numbers  42   b  and  43   b,  the reference number  41   c  corresponds to the reference numbers  42   c  and  43   c,  the reference number  411   b  corresponds to the reference numbers  422   b  and  433   b,  and the reference number  411   c  corresponds to the reference numbers  422   c  and  433   c.    
     In the above-described embodiment, the information processing unit  3  has a configuration to change colors which are emitted by the light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a  of the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a configuration can also be made in which the measuring units  21 ,  22  and  23  can change colors which are emitted by the light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a  and the information is transmitted to the information processing unit  3  to update the device information stored in the device information storage section  332 . 
     In the above-described embodiment, colors as indicators are displayed in the title bars  91   a,    91   b  and  91   c  and the title bars  511   a,    511   b  and  511   c.  However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration can also be made in which colors as indicators are displayed in the tool bars  92   a,    92   b  and  92   c.  Also, a configuration can also be made in which colors as indicators are displayed in the characters of the device names which are displayed in the title bars  91   a,    91   b  and  91   c  or the like. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a  are configured to have one LED capable of displaying a plurality of colors. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration can also be made in which the light-emitting sections  21   a,    22   a  and  23   a  have a plurality of LEDs capable of displaying only one color, such as a red-color LED, a green-color LED or a blue-color LED, and only an LED capable of displaying a color assigned for the measuring unit  21 ,  22  or  23  emits light. In addition, a configuration can also be made in which the light-emitting section has a white-color light source and a filter of plural colors and the color of the light-emitting section is changed by switching the filter.