JP2000088861A - Sample transport system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] When a trouble occurs during transport in a sample transport system that pre-processes a rack holding a sample,
Thereafter, the incomplete processing is performed efficiently. If a trouble occurs while a rack 9 is being transported to a plurality of types of pre-processing units 5A to 5G arranged along a transport device 3, the system temporarily stops.
Once the rack is processed by the preprocessing unit, the processed preprocessing unit information is stored. The sample ID and the rack ID of the rack that has been re-entered into the system are read by the rack supply unit 2, the processed pre-processing unit of the corresponding rack is referred to, and the processed pre-processing unit is bypassed so as to be bypassed. Information is created. The rack is transported to the unprocessed preprocessing unit based on the information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample transport system, and more particularly to a sample transport system in which a plurality of types of preprocessing units are arranged along a rack transport device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a sample transport system is provided with a transport line composed of a plurality of types of sample pre-processing devices and a belt line connecting the pre-processing devices. A container containing a sample such as blood or the like is provided in a state of being held in a box-shaped holder called a sample rack or simply a rack. After the unprocessed parent sample is centrifuged, the container is unplugged, a part of the parent sample is dispensed into one or more child sample containers, and the child sample container is dispensed. On the other hand, a process of attaching an ID label on which a barcode or the like is displayed, a closing process of plugging a child sample or a parent sample, a classification process of sorting a child sample rack according to a subsequent process, and transporting a child sample rack to an analyzer. The processing for analyzing and measuring the child sample is appropriately combined. A plurality of devices having the functions of these processes are linked by a transport line to form an automation system.

"Hitachi Review, vol. 41, No. 4, No. 167-1
Page 72 (1992) ”is an automatic sample handling system in which a transport line for transporting a sample is composed of multiple transport routes, and the sample is distributed to various processing units by branching the transport line into multiple routes. Is taught.

The processing units arranged in this system include an automatic centrifugal separation unit for separating blood into serum and sediment, an opening unit for automatically removing a lid on a sample container, and a parent sample container. A dispensing unit for dispensing serum from a sample container to a child sample container, a barcode label unit for attaching a barcode label having the same sample ID as the parent sample to the child sample container, and a cover for closing the sample container There are a closure unit, a sample classification unit for classifying sample containers into test groups, and a chemical analysis unit for automatically performing chemical analysis on a sample.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-167866 discloses that a parent sample rack centrifuged at a centrifugal station is conveyed to a parent sample storage unit via a dispensing station via a belt line, while a sample is collected at a dispensing station. An example is shown in which a child sample rack that has received a copy is carried to a plurality of analyzers by another belt line. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-167866 discloses a method in which a plurality of belt lines are merged into a single belt line to transport various child sample racks to a branching device. This indicates that the child sample is transported by a plurality of dedicated belt lines.

[0006]

As described above, the sample transport system includes an analysis unit that samples a sample prepared for analysis and analyzes the sample, a sample in a sample container held in a rack, or a sample container itself. And a pre-processing unit that prepares a rack in which a physical sample is subjected to physical processing and a sample for analysis can be sampled.

If a trouble occurs during operation on the transport line or the pre-processing unit in the system, the subsequent pre-processing operation cannot be continued, and it is necessary to collect the rack holding the sample containers from the transport line. is there. Such a rack with insufficient processing has not yet been subjected to the preprocessing after the occurrence of the trouble, so it must be reintroduced to the transport line after the system is restored and preprocessed.

However, in the conventional sample transport system,
Because the preprocessing station of each preprocessing unit is formed on the transport line, when a rack that has not been preprocessed is transported again, the rack is also introduced into a preprocessing unit that has already completed preprocessing. As a result, the overall processing speed is reduced. Further, since the rack holding the parent sample that is the source of the dispensing process has a different processing form from the child rack holding the child sample formed by receiving a part of the parent sample by dispensing, An inspection technician sorts each processing mode and manages the input to the system, or requires a special device structurally for the system.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample transport system capable of efficiently processing even a rack in which preprocessing has not been completed due to a trouble in the course of operation by transporting the rack again to a transport line in the system. To provide.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pre-processing apparatus suitable for a rack which holds a parent sample or a child sample even if the rack has not been pre-processed. Is to provide a sample transport system that can automatically perform the sample transfer without requiring a special structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sample transport system that can execute the same preprocessing again when the result of the preprocessing is bad.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A sample transport system according to the present invention includes a transport device having a transport line for transporting a rack holding a sample container, a rack supply unit for supplying a rack to the transport line, and a transport device. And a plurality of types of preprocessing units for performing preprocessing for analysis preparation on the sample container or the sample in the sample container, and identification information for reading identification information of a rack sent out from a rack supply unit. A reading device.

One concept based on the present invention includes a control unit which has a storage unit and controls each rack to be transported to a preprocessing unit at a destination determined for each rack,
With the successful completion of the pre-processing in the pre-processing unit at the specified destination, information on the completion of the processing relating to the pre-processing unit is stored in the storage unit of the control unit, and the information is again transferred to the transport line via the rack supply unit. The processing completion preprocessing unit is bypassed by referring to the processing completion information stored in the storage unit in accordance with the reading of the identification information reading device for the reloaded rack conveyed by The transport of the reloading rack is controlled so as to stop at the unit.

More specifically, a pre-processing station formed in each of a plurality of types of pre-processing units for executing pre-processing on racks carried in from a transport line, and a plurality of pre-processing stations to which each rack is to be carried in. A control unit that manages the rack transfer destination information on the pre-processing unit, and a rack removal unit that takes out the rack from which the transfer is completed in a state where the pre-processing by any of the pre-processing units that are the transfer destination is incomplete. Part. Then, for example, when the pre-processing is completed or not completed for the specific rack carried into the plurality of pre-processing units in the first transfer, the transfer destination information regarding the pre-processing unit corresponding to the completion of the pre-processing is changed. A pre-processing unit corresponding to pre-processing incomplete according to the changed rack transport destination information recognized by the identification information reading device to read the rack identification information of the specific rack for the re-transportation of the specific rack. The specific rack is carried in to execute the pre-processing, and the specific rack is transported so that the specific rack does not drop in to the pre-processing unit in which the pre-processing is completed.

With this configuration, a rack in which pre-processing by the pre-processing unit scheduled due to a trouble during the previous operation has not been completed, when the rack is conveyed again by the system, the rack which has already been pre-processed. The processing efficiency is high as a whole, since it stops only at the incomplete preprocessing unit without stopping at the preprocessing unit.

In the sample transport system according to the present invention, the transport device has a return line for returning the rack transported on the transport line to the start end of the transport line, and the rack passing through the return line transports the rack again. When transported by the line, the transport of the rack is controlled so that the rack stops at at least one of the preprocessing units that have stopped before returning. In other words, if the result of executing the pre-processing on the rack is not good, the pre-processing can be performed again.
This is different from the rack drop-in destination when re-transporting the rack after a trouble has occurred. In other words, even in the same rack,
The transport route differs between when a trouble occurs and when the process is performed again.

The plurality of types of pre-processing units provided in the sample transport system according to the present invention include at least a centrifugal separation processing unit and a dispensing processing unit. Is determined to be a child rack, and if the target rack is a child rack, the rack is transported so as to bypass the dispensing processing unit. Furthermore, if it is a child rack, it does not stop at the centrifugal separation processing unit. If the target rack is the parent rack, it is determined whether or not the rack has completed the pre-processing by the centrifugal separation processing unit and the dispensing processing unit.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the entire configuration of a sample transport system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this system, the transport device 3 includes a transport line for transporting the rack from the rack supply unit 2 to the analysis unit 6 and a necessary one of the racks passing through the transport line to the start end of the transport line. Has a return line to return. In this example, a transport line is formed by connecting a plurality of line sections 3A to 3F in series. The feedback line is formed by connecting the line sections 3a to 3f in series. The transport line may include a reading line 17 attached to the rack supply unit 2, and the return line may include a transfer line 18. Each line section has a belt conveyor and its drive. Line division 3A and 3a
Function as one line division unit in pairs. In addition, line divisions 3B and 3b, 3C and 3c, 3
D and 3d, 3E and 3e, and 3F and 3f also form pairs and function as line division units.

A rack 9 holding a sample such as blood or urine
Is supplied from the rack supply unit 2 to the transfer line of the transfer device 3. In this example, the rack supply unit 2 includes a reading line 17, a transfer line 18, a rack delivery mechanism 2A, a rack removal unit 2B, a supply unit control unit 14, and the like. A plurality of pre-processing units 5A, 5B, 5
C, 5D and the rack storage unit 4 are arranged. The preprocessing unit 5A connected to the section unit including the line sections 3A and 3a has a unit control unit 15a and a preprocessing station 20a. The preprocessing unit 5B connected to the section unit including the line sections 3B and 3b has a unit control unit 15b and a preprocessing station 20b. The preprocessing unit 5C connected to the section unit including the line sections 3C and 3c has a unit control unit 15c and a preprocessing station 20c. Line division 3D
The pre-processing unit 5D connected to the sorting unit consisting of and 3d has a unit control unit 15d and a pre-processing station 20d.

The rack storage section 4 connected to the section unit composed of the line sections 3E and 3e includes a default rack take-out section 4A, two processed rack take-out sections 4B,
4C, a unit control unit 15e, and the like. The analysis unit 6 connected to the division unit including the line divisions 3F and 3f has an analysis processing unit (not shown) and a unit control unit 15f, and is a child formed by the dispensing processing which is one of the preprocessing. The sample is sampled and an analysis process is performed.
Each of the unit control units 15a to 15f controls an operation in the unit to which the unit belongs.

The general control section 1 having the storage section 1A is composed of a computer, and can communicate information with a host computer in a facility such as a hospital via a communication line. An operation input unit 31 for an operator to input various information and a screen display unit 32 for displaying a preprocessing status and an analysis result are connected to the overall control unit 1. The unit control unit, the supply unit control unit 14, and the unit control units 15a to 15f of each line division unit exchange information with the overall control unit 1 via the communication line 10. The sample information including the analysis items for each sample is downloaded from the host computer to the overall control unit 1. Here, the general control unit 1, the supply unit control unit 14, and the unit control unit may be collectively referred to as a control unit.

If the sample is blood, the parent rack 9 holding whole blood is held in the parent rack 9 that has not been subjected to any preprocessing. FIG. 3 shows an example of a rack for holding a sample. The box-shaped rack 9 has rack identification information, that is, the rack I
D11 is attached. This rack is loaded with one or more sample containers, for example, five sample containers 12. The identification information of the sample, that is, the sample ID 1
3 is pasted. The rack ID and sample ID are
In this example, a barcode is used.
A C card or the like can also be used.

A bar code reader 7 for reading the rack ID and a bar code reader 8 for reading the sample ID are arranged near the reading line 17 of the rack supply unit 2. Bar code readers 7A to 7E for reading rack IDs are arranged near the rack entrance of each processing unit. The barcode readers 7 and 8 may be shared.

The parent racks, which are first input to the rack sending mechanism 2A of the rack supply unit 2, are sent out one by one to the reading line 17 and are read by the barcode reader 7 into the rack I.
D is read by the bar code reader 8 for the sample ID. The read sample ID and rack ID are transmitted to the overall control unit 1 via a communication line. Overall control unit 1
Creates rack transport destination information based on the identification information, and sends a rack transport instruction to each unit control unit via the control unit 14 of the rack supply unit 2. The rack 9 in which the reading of the rack ID or the sample ID has failed is stored in the integrated control unit 1.
Is taken out by the rack take-out unit 2B. The rack take-out unit 2B is arranged adjacent to the reading line.

As an example of the combination of the preprocessing units,
In the example of FIG. 1, 5A is a centrifugal separation unit that separates a parent sample of whole blood into serum and a clot, 5B is an opening unit that removes the plug of the parent sample container, and 5C is one of the serum samples. It is assumed that the dispensing unit dispenses a part from the parent sample container to the child sample container, and that 5D is a barcode attaching unit that attaches a barcode label to the dispensed sample container. In the dispensing processing unit 5C, a rack holding a new empty container is supplied to the preprocessing station (dispensing station in this case) 20c in order to form a child sample rack. One or more child sample racks are created by dispensing samples from the parent rack. The rack in which the transfer destination, that is, the pre-processing unit at the drop-in destination is determined by the integrated control unit 1 is moved from the reading line 17 to the transfer line. If this rack is determined to stop at the pre-processing units 5A to 5C, the rack temporarily stops on the line section 3A and the rack ID reading device 7
A reads the rack ID. Various pretreatment units can carry in and carry out racks to and from the transport line. The read rack ID is transferred to the overall control unit 1, and based on the read rack ID, the overall control unit 1 determines whether or not to carry the rack into the centrifugal separation unit 5A. In this case, since the rack can be loaded, the rack is loaded into the centrifugal separation station 20a via the pull-in line, where the rack is subjected to centrifugal separation.

After the centrifugal separation, the rack is returned to the line section 3A of the transport line and transported to the next designated pre-processing unit. On the next line section 3B, similarly, the rack ID is read by the rack ID reading device 7B, and the general control unit 1 instructs the carry-in based on the read ID. The rack from which the parent sample container has been unplugged at the preprocessing station 20b of the unplugging unit 5B is again placed in line section 3
Returned to B.

This rack similarly stops at the next dispensing unit 5C, and dispenses a part of the sample from the parent sample container on the opened parent rack to an empty container on a new rack. Both the parent rack and the newly created child rack are carried out to the line section 3C of the transport line. After that, the parent rack is transported to the rack storage unit 4 without stopping at the barcode pasting unit 5D, but the child rack stops at the barcode pasting device 5D via the line section 3D and receives the same sample ID as the parent sample. The label having the label is attached to each child sample container.

The rack that has completed the predetermined pre-processing is
The racks are selectively stored in the processed rack removal unit 4B or 4C according to an instruction from the overall control unit 1. For example, the parent rack is stored in 4B and the child rack is stored in 4C. The child rack having the child sample requiring the analysis processing is transported to the analysis unit 6 via the line section 3F.

During the operation of the above-described processing in FIG. 1, the rack carried into a plurality of pre-processing units will be described.
It is assumed that there is a preprocessing unit for which preprocessing has been completed due to occurrence of a trouble and a preprocessing unit for which preprocessing has not been completed. In this case, the general control unit 1 changes the transport destination information of the rack with respect to the preprocessing unit corresponding to the completion of the preprocessing. A rack having such an uncompleted pre-process is taken out to the default rack take-out unit 4A.

Such a rack is installed on the rack delivery mechanism 2A of the rack supply unit 2 so that it can be transported again by the transport line. Regardless of the parent rack or the child rack, the rack ID is read by the rack ID reading device 7, and the changed destination information is collated. The transport destination information of the rack indicates that the pre-processing unit corresponding to the rack in which the pre-processing has not been completed is stopped, but there is no stop-in instruction for the pre-processing unit whose pre-processing is completed. For this reason, the rack moved to the transport line stops at only the preprocessing unit for which preprocessing has not been completed, and performs necessary preprocessing at the preprocessing station. This rack passes through the transport line in front of the preprocessing unit that has completed the preprocessing, but bypasses the unit without stopping.

On the other hand, there may be a case where a rack which has performed the pre-processing but has a poor result is obtained. Such a rack can be transported again to the same pre-processing unit. In this case, the rack transported on the transport line reaches the transfer line 18 via the return line including the line sections 3a to 3d, and is transferred to the reading line 17. Then, the transport of the rack is controlled so as to stop at the preprocessing unit whose preprocessing is not good.

Here, a modified example of the control method in FIG. 1 will be described. The configuration of the system is almost the same as that of FIG. 1, and the overall control unit 1 communicates only with the rack supply unit 2. Each line section, the rack storage unit 4 and the like exchange information with the rack supply unit 2 by internal information transmission means. Each line division unit has a storage unit, and can store information sent from the rack supply unit in the storage unit. When the rack supply unit 2 reads the sample ID and the rack ID and transmits them to the overall control unit 1, the overall control unit 1 returns the rack transport information to the supply unit. The rack transport information received by the supply unit is stored in the storage unit of the transport line via the internal transmission unit. The rack transferred to the transfer line
Read the rack ID with a rack ID barcode reader,
The corresponding rack transport information stored in the storage means is read, and loading of the rack is determined accordingly. further,
Instead of this modification, the control unit 1 may be built in the rack supply unit 2.

Next, an example of a rack transfer mechanism for moving a rack between the transport line and the pre-processing unit used in the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The rack transfer mechanism is attached to the pre-processing unit 5 and pulls the rack into the pre-processing unit. The rack retraction mechanism 22A and the rack are returned to the transport line.
The rack push-out mechanism 22B is provided. The rack retraction mechanism 22A normally waits for the arrival of the sample rack 9 in the preprocessing unit. When the rack 9 arrives at the carry-in entrance 101, the rack retraction mechanism 22A moves to the transport line as indicated by the broken line, and receives the rack 9. When the rack 9 is received, the rack retraction mechanism 22
A is returned to the preprocessing unit, and the rack 9 is pulled into the preprocessing unit. Rack 9 drawn into the preprocessing unit
Moves to the pre-processing station 102 and is processed. After the sample has been processed, the rack 9 moves to the push-out standby position 103, and the push-out mechanism 22B
The rack 9 is moved to the transport line by moving in the direction as indicated by the broken line. 105 is a rack detector.

Next, a database provided in the general control unit 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The overall control unit 1 stores a sample information database 24, a parent rack information database 26, and a child rack information database 28 in a storage unit 1A inside the control unit.

FIG. 4 shows the sample information database. The sample information database 24 holds processed pre-processing unit information for the parent sample. The processed preprocessing unit information associates various preprocessing units connected to the sample transport system in the arrangement order from the left. In FIG. 4, a preprocessing unit indicated by a circle means a processed preprocessing unit. Further, the pre-processing unit indicated by x means an unprocessed pre-processing unit.
The processed preprocessing unit information is written at the timing when the parent rack is processed by the preprocessing unit and the processing result is reported to the overall control unit 1.

FIG. 5 shows the parent rack information database.
The parent rack information database 26 holds destination information of the parent rack. Further, by holding the information of the sample information database reference destination of each parent sample held by the parent rack, the information of the parent sample at each position held by the rack 9 is read from the read rack ID.
Can be referenced from

FIG. 6 shows the child rack information database.
The child rack information database 28 holds the destination of the child rack and the processed pre-processing unit information of the rack. In addition, it holds the sample information database reference destination of the parent sample that is the parent of each child sample held by the child rack and the parent rack information database reference information of the parent rack that holds the parent sample. The processed preprocessing unit information associates various preprocessing units connected to the sample transport system in the arrangement order from the left. In FIG. 6, a pre-processing unit indicated by a circle means a processed pre-processing unit. Further, the pre-processing unit indicated by x means an unprocessed pre-processing unit. The processed pre-processing unit information indicates that the child rack is processed by the sample processing unit,
The processing result is written at the timing reported to the general control unit 1.

Next, a rack information table provided in the control unit will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 7, the rack information table 30 holds a start rack ID, an end rack ID, a sample type indicating whether the rack is a parent rack or a child rack, transport information, storage information, and the like.

The sample type stores a code for identifying whether the rack to which the rack ID defined in the range from the start rack ID to the end rack ID is attached is a parent rack or a child rack.

The storage information holds information on which take-out part of the rack storage part 4 the rack is to be taken out.

The transport information holds information on which preprocessing unit the rack is to be transported to and transport destination information on a rack whose processing has not been completed (default). In FIG. 7, a pre-processing unit indicated by a circle means a transfer instruction or setting to the pre-processing unit. Further, the rack is not transported to the preprocessing unit indicated by x.

Next, the processing flow after the rack is supplied to the supply unit will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 shows a rack flow in this embodiment. In the example of the system configuration in FIG. 8, a centrifugal separation unit 5A, an opening unit 5B, an online dispensing unit 5C, a barcode attaching unit 5D, a closing unit 5E, and an offline dispensing unit are provided between the rack supply unit and the rack storage unit. 5F and a classification unit 5G.

First, the flow of the parent rack will be described. The parent rack input from the rack supply unit 2 is then subjected to centrifugal separation in the centrifugal separation unit 5A, and the plug opening unit 5B
, The sample container is unplugged, the online dispensing unit 5C performs dispensing processing on the child rack, the offline dispensing unit 5F performs sorting and dispensing processing, and is stored in the rack storage unit 4.

If the system does not stop while processing racks, the racks are processed in the order described above. Here, it is assumed that a stop level alarm due to nozzle jamming occurs while the rack is being processed by the online dispensing unit 5C, and the online dispensing unit 5C stops. When the online dosing unit is reset by operator intervention,
The rack is carried out to the default rack take-out unit 4A of the rack storage unit. When the rack is put into the rack supply unit 2 again, the centrifugal separation unit 5A and the plug opening unit 5
B has already been processed and is bypassed and transported to the online dispensing unit 5C. In the online dispensing unit 5C, the sample that has not been dispensed due to nozzle jamming is dispensed, and then the rack is transported to the offline dispensing unit 5F, and after being processed, the rack removal unit 4B of the rack storage unit 4 Is stored in.

Next, the flow of the child rack will be described. FIG.
Is generated by the online dispensing unit 5C, and then stored in the rack storage unit 4 via the barcode pasting unit 5D and the classification unit 5G. If the system is not stopped while processing racks, the racks are processed in the order described above. Here, it is assumed that the system stops while the child rack carried out from the online dispensing unit 5C is being conveyed to the barcode pasting unit 5D. When the system is reset by the intervention of the operator, the rack is carried out to the default rack removal unit 4A of the rack storage unit 4. When the rack is put into the rack supply unit 2, the centrifugal separation unit 5A, the opening unit 5B, and the online dispensing unit 5C are bypassed and transported to the barcode attaching unit 5D.
After the barcode label is attached by the barcode attaching unit 5D, the rack is sorted by the sorting unit 5G via the plugging unit 5E, and the container is moved to a new rack. Is stored in the processed rack take-out section 4C.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the rack supply unit 2. In S1, when the rack 9 is installed on the rack supply unit 2, the sample IDs 13 and 11 are read by the ID reading devices 7 and 8, and the read rack ID and sample ID are transmitted to the overall control unit 1. S2
Then, the rack information table 30 is referenced using the rack ID as a key to determine whether the read rack ID is the parent rack or the child rack. If the rack ID is the parent rack, the process proceeds to S3. If the read rack ID is the child rack, the process proceeds to S9.

When the rack 9 is a parent rack, the sample information database 24
And extract the processed pre-processing unit information (S
6). If two or more sample containers 12 are held in the rack 9, S4 to S8 are repeated in S8. The result (S10) of completing the union of all processed preprocessing unit information is the processed preprocessing unit of the rack.

When the rack 9 is a child rack, S9 to S1
At 0, the child rack information database 28 is searched using the rack ID as a key, and the processed pre-processing unit information is extracted.

In S11 to S12, the default rack transport destination information of the rack is extracted by referring to the rack information table 30 using the rack ID read in S1 as a key.

At S13, an exclusive union set of S10 and S12 is obtained, and the result becomes the transport destination information S14 of the rack. The transport destination information calculated in S14 is stored in the parent rack information database 26 if it is a parent rack, and is stored in the child rack information database 28 if it is a child rack.

FIG. 10 shows a processing flow in the transport line. When the rack 9 is carried out to the transfer line, the rack ID
The rack ID 11 is read by the reading device 7 (S1
5), the read rack ID is transmitted to the overall control unit 1. In S16, using the received rack ID as a key,
Referring to the rack information table 30, it is determined whether the rack 9 is a parent rack or a child rack. In the case of the parent rack, the parent rack information database 26 is searched in S17 to extract rack transport destination information. In the case of a child rack, the child rack information database 28 is searched to extract rack transport destination information. In the transfer line, the loading of the rack 9 into each pre-processing unit connected to the transfer line is determined and processed based on the rack transfer destination information (S19).

FIG. 11 shows a processing flow in the preprocessing unit. When the processing of all the samples held by the rack 9 is completed in the preprocessing unit, the processing result is transmitted to the overall control unit 1 (S22). It is assumed that the result information transmitted from the preprocessing unit includes the rack ID of the rack. S
At 23, the rack information table 30 is referred to using the transmitted rack ID as a key to determine whether the rack 9 is a parent rack or a child rack.

In the case of the parent rack, in steps S24 to S28, the sample information database reference destination of each position of the rack 9 is extracted from the parent rack information database 24 using the rack ID as a key. If the result in S22 is a normal processing result, the processed preprocessing unit information is set to “processed” in the processed preprocessing unit information of the sample information database 24 of the sample (S28). When two or more sample containers 12 are held in the rack 9, S25 to S29 are repeated in S29.

Here, if the sample is not processed normally, an alarm flag is added to the result, and when the overall control unit 1 receives the alarm flag, the information of the processed pre-processing unit of the sample is added to the processing unit. To "unprocessed".

In the case of a child rack in S23, if the processing results of all the child samples held by the rack 9 are normal, the processed pre-processing unit information in the child rack information database 28 is set to "processed". For all other results,
Leave unprocessed.

According to the above-described embodiment, even if a rack in which incomplete processing has occurred due to a trouble once processed is re-supplied from the rack supply unit after the trouble is resolved, the pre-processing unit that has completed the processing will not The rack can be transported only to the pretreatment julat that is bypassed and needs to be processed, so that a sample transport system with higher efficiency and higher throughput can be constructed.

[0060]

According to the present invention, a rack in which preprocessing has not been completed due to a trouble during the operation of preprocessing is transported again to a transport line in the system, so that preprocessing can be performed with high processing efficiency. Can be executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a rack transfer mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a rack.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a sample information database.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a parent rack information database.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a child rack information database.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a rack information table.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a flow of a rack.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing in a rack supply unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing in a transport line.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of processing in a preprocessing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Overall control part, 2 ... Rack supply part, 3 ... Rack conveyance apparatus, 3A-3F ... Line division, 4 ... Rack storage part, 4A
... Default rack removal section, 4B, 4C... Processed rack removal section, 5A to 5D... Pre-processing unit, 6.
Analysis unit, 7, 7A to 7E: rack ID reader, 8: sample ID reader, 9: rack, 15a to
15f: Unit control unit, 20a to 20d: Pretreatment station.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroki Ihara 882-Chair, Oaza-shi, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Pref. Inside the Measuring Instruments Division, Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi, Ltd.Measurement Instruments Division (72) Inventor Jin Tokieda 882, Omo, Oji, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Co., Ltd. GC06 GC09 GD06 GE02 3F027 AA02 CA01 DA16 EA04 FA18

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transport device having a transport line for transporting a rack holding a sample container, a rack supply unit for supplying the rack to the transport line, and a sample container arranged along the transport device, Alternatively, a sample transport system including a plurality of types of preprocessing units that perform preprocessing for analysis preparation on a sample in the sample container, and an identification information reading device that reads identification information of a rack sent from the rack supply unit. In the above, a control unit which has a storage unit and controls the rack to be transported to the pre-processing unit of the predetermined destination is provided, and the pre-processing in the pre-processing unit of the predetermined destination is successful. With the end of the process, information on the completion of the process related to the pre-processing unit is stored in the storage unit, and the information is again transferred on the transfer line via the rack supply unit. By referring to the processing completion information stored in the storage unit as the identification information reading device reads the incoming rack, the processing completed preprocessing unit is bypassed, and the processing completed preprocessing unit is stopped. Controlling the conveyance of the reloading rack as described above. 2. The sample transport system according to claim 1, wherein the transport device has a return line for returning the rack transported on the transport line to a start end of the transport line, and the rack passing through the return line. A sample transport system for controlling transport of the rack so that when transported by the transport line, the rack is again stopped at at least one of the preprocessing units that have stopped before returning. 3. A transport device having a transport line for transporting a rack holding a sample container, a rack supply unit for supplying the rack to the transport line, and the sample container disposed along the transport device. Alternatively, a sample transport system including a plurality of types of preprocessing units that perform preprocessing for analysis preparation on a sample in the sample container, and an identification information reading device that reads identification information of a rack sent from the rack supply unit. A preprocessing station that is formed in each of the plurality of types of preprocessing units and performs preprocessing on a rack carried in from the transport line, and a plurality of preprocessing units to which each rack is to be carried. Pre-processing by the control unit that manages rack transport destination information and any of the pre-processing units that are the transport destination is not completed A rack take-out unit for taking out a rack that has finished transporting from the transport device in the state, and completing the pre-processing in response to the completion and incomplete completion of the pre-processing for the specific rack carried into the plurality of pre-processing units. After changing the transfer destination information relating to the pre-processing unit corresponding to the above, the rack identification information of the specific rack is read by the identification information reading device for the re-transportation of the specific rack, and the change is recognized along with the reading. The specific rack is carried into the pre-processing unit corresponding to the pre-processing not completed according to the rack transfer destination information, and the pre-processing is performed, and the specific rack is not stopped by the pre-processing unit in which the pre-processing is completed. A sample transport system configured to transport the specific rack. 4. A transport device having a transport line for transporting a rack holding a sample container, a rack supply unit for supplying the rack to the transport line, and a sample container arranged along the transport device, Alternatively, a sample transport system including a plurality of types of preprocessing units that perform preprocessing for analysis preparation on a sample in the sample container, and an identification information reading device that reads identification information of a rack sent from the rack supply unit. In, the plurality of types of preprocessing units include at least a centrifugal separation processing unit and a dispensing processing unit, and determine whether the target rack is a parent rack or a child rack with reading by the identification information reading device, If the target rack is a child rack, the rack is transported so as to bypass the dispensing processing unit. Transport system.