Sample analyzer, reagent aspirating method, and computer program product

• US 20080241939A1
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Kitagawa, Nobuhiro, Naito, Takamichi, Fujino, Hiroyuki, Matsuo, Naohiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,277,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/54
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1009 Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/119163 with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention is to present a sample analyzer which is capable of respond immediately when a need to perform analysis of multiple items arises. The sample analyzer 1 includes a table 12 capable of holding a first rack 320 and a second rack 330; a reagent dispensing arm 120 which comprises a pipette part 121; a reagent dispensing driving section 120a for moving the reagent dispensing arm 120; a reagent barcode reader 350; and a control section 501 for controlling the reagent dispensing driving section 120a so as to move the pipette part 121 to a predetermined reagent aspirating position according to the identification information obtained by the reagent barcode reader 350.

Claims

1. A sample analyzer for analyzing a sample using a reagent corresponding to a predetermined analysis item, comprising:

a table capable of holding a first rack which comprises a rack identifier and is capable of holding a reagent container, and a second rack which comprises a rack identifier and is capable of holding a reagent container, a shape of the second rack being different from that of the first rack;

an aspirator which comprises an aspirating pipette in which a reagent from a reagent container on the table is aspirated and a driver for moving the aspirating pipette;

an identification information obtainer for obtaining identification information of a rack holding a target reagent container which contains a target reagent used for analysis, from a rack identifier of the rack; and

a controller for controlling the driver so as to move the aspirating pipette to a predetermined reagent aspirating position according to the identification information obtained by the identification information obtainer.

2. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the identification information, obtained from the rack identifier by the identification information obtainer, includes information specifying a shape of the rack.

3. The sample analyzer of claim 1, further comprising,

a table rotating part for rotating the table,

wherein

the controller controls the table rotating part so as to move the target reagent container to the predetermined reagent aspirating position according to the identification information obtained by the identification information obtainer.

4. The sample analyzer of claim 3, wherein

the controller determines a shape of the rack holding the target reagent container based on the identification information obtained by the identification information;

controls the driver so as to move the aspirating pipette to a first reagent aspirating position and controls the table rotating part so as to move the target reagent container to the first reagent aspirating position, when the rack holding the target reagent container is the first rack; and

controls the driver so as to move the aspirating pipette to a second reagent aspirating position different from the first reagent aspirating position and controls the table rotating part so as to move the target reagent container to the second reagent aspirating position, when the rack holding the target reagent container is the second rack.

5. The sample analyzer of claim 4, wherein

the first rack comprises a plurality of reagent container holders, each of the reagent container holders being moved to the first reagent aspirating position and being capable of holding a reagent container which comprises a reagent identifier;

the second rack comprises a plurality of reagent container holders, each of the reagent container holders being moved to the second reagent aspirating position and being capable of holding a reagent container which comprises a reagent identifier;

the identification information obtainer obtains identification information which specifies reagent contained in a reagent container on the table from a reagent identifier of the reagent container on the table; and

the controller obtains position information of the target reagent container on the table based on the identification information obtained by the identification information obtainer and

controls the table rotating part so as to move the target reagent container to the predetermined reagent aspirating position based on the position information of the target reagent container on the table.

6. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein

a number of the reagent container holders of the first rack is different from a number of the reagent container holders of the second rack.

7. The sample analyzer of claim 6, wherein

the first rack has the same outer shape as that of the second reagent container rack.

8. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein

the first and second racks respectively arranges the reagent container holders concentrically.

9. The sample analyzer of claim 8, wherein

the first rack comprises a plurality of second reagent container holders arranged on a circular arc of a concentric circle with the table, each of the second reagent container holders being moved to a third reagent aspirating position different from the first and second reagent aspirating positions.

10. The sample analyzer of claim 9, wherein

the reagent container holders and the second reagent container holders of the first rack are arranged in zig-zag manner.

11. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein

the controller obtains value indicating a rotation angle of the table from an origin position of the table to the target reagent container on the table as the position information of the target reagent container.

12. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein

each of the reagent container holders of the first and second racks comprises a holder identifier;

and

the identification information obtainer obtains identification information specifying each of the reagent container holders from the holder identifiers of the reagent container holders of the first and second racks.

13. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein

the aspirating pipette is capable of rotate in a horizontal plane;

and

the first reagent aspirating position is an intersecting position of a trajectory of a rotation movement of the aspirating pipette and a trajectory of a rotation movement of the reagent container holders of the first rack by a rotation movement of the table, and

the second reagent aspirating position is an intersecting position of a trajectory of the rotation movement of the aspirating pipette and a trajectory of a rotation movement of the reagent container holders of the second rack by the rotation movement of the table.

14. The sample analyzer of claim 5, further comprising

a memory for storing position information of each reagent container holder of the first and second racks.

15. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein

the table is formed as a circular rotating table, and

the sample analyzer further comprising

a second table being arranged inside the table concentrically, being rotatable independent from the table and being capable of holding a third rack,

wherein

the third rack comprises a rack identifier and a reagent container holder for holding a reagent container, the reagent container holder being moved to a third reagent aspirating position different from the first and second reagent aspirating positions and having a holder identifier.

16. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein

the rack identifiers of the first and second racks, and the reagent identifiers of the reagent containers held in the first and second racks are barcodes.

17. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the controller obtains order information including analysis items of the sample,

the sample analyzer further comprises

an analyzing section for analyzing the sample according to the order information obtained by the controller.

18. The sample analyzer of claim 17, wherein

the sample is a blood sample;

and

the analyzing section performs analysis related to coagulation function of the blood sample.

19. A reagent aspirating method, comprising steps of:

(a) obtaining identification information specifying a reagent container rack from rack identifiers of first and second reagent container racks held by a circular rotating table, and obtaining identification information specifying a reagent from a reagent identifier of each reagent container held in a plurality of reagent container holders of the first and second reagent container racks;

(b) obtaining position information of reagent containers on the rotating table based on the identification information obtained in step (a);

(c) moving an aspirating pipette to a first reagent aspirating position and rotating the rotating table so as to move a target reagent container containing a target reagent used for analysis to the first reagent aspirating position, when a reagent container rack holding the target reagent container is a first reagent container rack, based on position information of the target reagent container obtained in step (b),

and moving the aspirating pipette to a second reagent aspirating position and rotating the rotating table so as to move the target reagent container to the second reagent aspirating position, when the reagent container rack holding the target reagent container is the second reagent container rack, based on the position information of the target reagent container obtained in step (b).

20. A computer program product for enabling a computer to execute a reagent aspirating method, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

software instructions, on the computer readable medium, for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations comprising;

(a) obtaining identification information specifying a reagent container rack from rack identifiers of first and second reagent container racks held by a circular rotating table, and obtaining identification information specifying a reagent from a reagent identifier of each reagent container held in a plurality of reagent container holders of the first and second reagent container racks;

(b) obtaining position information of reagent containers on the rotating table based on the identification information obtained in step (a);

(c) moving an aspirating pipette to a first reagent aspirating position and rotating the rotating table so as to move a target reagent container containing a target reagent used for analysis to the first reagent aspirating position, when a reagent container rack holding the target reagent container is a first reagent container rack, based on position information of the target reagent container obtained in step (b),

and moving the aspirating pipette to a second reagent aspirating position and rotating the rotating table so as to move the target reagent container to the second reagent aspirating position, when the reagent container rack holding the target reagent container is the second reagent container rack, based on the position information of the target reagent container obtained in step (b).