Sample analyzer, sample analyzing method, and computer program product

• US 20080241957A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Shibata, Masaharu, Yoshida, Noriyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,663,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00465 Separating and mixing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00584 Control arrangements for automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• 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 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A sample analyzing method comprising: aspirating a sample from a sample container; preparing a plurality of measurement samples from the aspirated sample; sequentially measuring the plurality of prepared measurement samples; obtaining a plurality of measurement data for the respective measurement samples; and obtaining an analysis result of a predetermined item of the sample based on the plurality of measurement data, is disclosed. A sample analyzer and a computer program product are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A sample analyzer comprising:

a retaining section for retaining a sample aspirated from a sample container;

a sample preparing section for preparing a plurality of measurement samples from the sample retained in the retaining section;

a measuring section for sequentially measuring the plurality of measurement samples prepared by the sample preparing section, and obtaining a plurality of measurement data of the respective measurement samples; and

an analysis result obtaining means for obtaining an analysis result of a predetermined item of the sample based on the plurality of measurement data obtained by the measuring section.

2. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein the retaining section comprises a pipette for aspirating the sample from the sample container.

3. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein the sample preparing section comprises a mixing chamber for mixing sample and reagent, and sequentially prepares the plurality of measurement samples within the mixing chamber, and the measuring section sequentially measures the plurality of measurement samples which have been sequentially prepared in the mixing chamber.

4. The sample analyzer of claim 3, wherein time from an end of the measurement sample preparation until a start of next measurement sample measurement is identical for the plurality of measurement samples.

5. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein the sample preparing section prepares measurement samples by mixing the sample and reagent;

and

mixing ratio of the sample and reagent is identical for the plurality of measurement samples.

6. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein the analysis result obtaining means creates a scattergram based on the plurality of measurement data obtained by the measuring section.

7. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein, during the measuring section is measuring a certain measurement sample, the sample preparing section starts preparing a measurement sample to be measured next by the measuring section after the certain measurement sample.

8. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein the analysis result obtaining means obtains an average value of the plurality of measurement data as the analysis result.

9. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein the analysis result of the predetermined item is an analysis result relating to a number of blood cells.

10. The sample analyzer of claim 9, wherein the sample is a body fluid, and the predetermined item is a number of white blood cells.

11. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein the sample is blood, and the predetermined item is a number of blast cells or a number of megakaryocytes.

12. A sample analyzing method comprising:

aspirating a sample from a sample container;

preparing a plurality of measurement samples from the aspirated sample;

sequentially measuring the plurality of prepared measurement samples;

obtaining a plurality of measurement data for the respective measurement samples; and

obtaining an analysis result of a predetermined item of the sample based on the plurality of measurement data.

13. The sample analyzing method of claim 12 further comprising retaining the sample aspirated from the sample container in a pipette;

wherein the step of preparing the measurement samples comprises preparing the plurality of measurement samples divided from the sample retained in the pipette.

14. The sample analyzing method of claim 12, wherein the step of preparing the measurement samples comprises sequentially preparing the plurality of measurement samples within a mixing chamber for mixing the sample and reagent.

15. The sample analyzing method of claim 14, wherein time from an end of the measurement sample preparation until a start of next measurement sample measurement is identical for the plurality of measurement samples.

16. The sample analyzing method of claim 12, wherein the step of preparing the measurement samples comprises preparing a measurement sample by mixing the sample and reagent;

and

the mixing ratio of the sample and reagent in the preparation step is identical for the plurality of measurement samples.

17. The sample analyzing method of claim 12, wherein the step of obtaining comprises preparing a scattergram based on the plurality of measurement data obtained in the measuring step.

18. The sample analyzing method of claim 12, wherein, during a certain measurement sample is measured in the measuring step, preparation of a measurement sample, to be measured next after the certain measurement sample, begins.

19. The sample analyzing method of claim 12, wherein the step of obtaining analysis result comprises obtaining an average value of the plurality of measurement data as the analysis result.

20. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

instructions, on the computer readable medium, adapted to enable a sample analyzer to perform operations, comprising;

obtaining a plurality of measurement data for respective measurement samples, wherein the respective measurement samples are obtained by sequentially measuring a plurality of measurement samples prepared from a sample container; and

obtaining an analysis result of a predetermined item of the sample based on the plurality of measurement data.