ANALYZER, AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING A MEASUREMENT ON A SAMPLE

• US 20130022956A1
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Ausdenmoore, James, Osella, Peter, Taylor, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 9,317,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48 Biological material, e.g. blood, urine G01N33/02, G01N33/26, G01N33/44, G01N33/46 take precedence; Haemocytometers counting blood corpuscules distributed over a surface by scanning the surface G06M11/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00623 of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 25/00 ICT specially adapted for hybridisation; ICT specially adapted for gene or protein expression

Abstract

An analyzer includes a display, measurement hardware configured to perform a measurement on a sample, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the display and the measurement hardware and is configured to communicate, via the display, a first pre-analytical procedure of the sample prior to measurement of the sample. The controller is also configured to maintain the analyzer in a state associated with the first procedure for an amount of time equal to a time needed for performing the first procedure. After the time needed for performing the first procedure has elapsed, the controller is configured to communicate, via the display, a second pre-analytical procedure of the sample prior to measurement of the sample.

Claims

1. An analyzer for performing a measurement on a sample, wherein an operator of the analyzer follows a plurality of procedures prior to measurement of the sample, the analyzer comprising:

a display;

measurement hardware configured to perform the measurement on the sample; and

a controller in communication with the display and the measurement hardware configured to;

continuously communicate, via the display, a first pre-analytical procedure of the sample prior to measurement of the sample for an amount of time needed for performing the first pre-analytical procedure; and

after the time needed for performing the first pre-analytical procedure has elapsed, communicate, via the display, a second pre-analytical procedure of the sample prior to measurement of the sample.

2. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to communicate the second pre-analytical procedure automatically after the time needed for performing the first procedure has elapsed.

3. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to wait until an operator indicates a readiness to proceed before communicating the second pre-analytical procedure.

4. The analyzer according to claim 3, wherein in the controller is configured to generate, on the display, a graphical button and enable the graphical button for operator input after the time needed for performing the first pre-analytical procedure has elapsed.

5. The analyzer according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to display on the button an indication of the elapsed time or the remaining time.

6. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the first pre-analytical procedure comprises warming of the sample.

7. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the second pre-analytical procedure comprises mixing of the sample.

8. A method for performing a measurement on a sample, wherein an operator follows a plurality of procedures prior to measurement of the sample, the method comprising:

providing a display;

providing measurement hardware configured to perform the measurement on the sample; and

controlling by at least one controller the display to continuously communicate, via the display, a first pre-analytical procedure of the sample prior to measurement of the sample for an amount of time needed for performing the first pre-analytical procedure;

after the time needed for performing the first pre-analytical procedure has elapsed, communicate, via the display, a second pre-analytical procedure of the sample prior to measurement of the sample.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising communicating the second pre-analytical procedure automatically after the time needed for performing the first pre-analytical procedure has elapsed.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising waiting until an operator indicates a readiness to proceed before communicating the second pre-analytical procedure.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising generating, on the display, a graphical button and enable the graphical button for operator input after the time needed for performing the first procedure has elapsed.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising displaying on the button an indication of the elapsed time or the remaining time.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first pre-analytical procedure comprises warming of the sample.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second pre-analytical procedure comprises mixing of the sample.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising at least one code section for performing a measurement on a sample, wherein an operator follows a plurality of procedures prior to measurement of the sample, wherein the at least one code section is executable by a machine and the machine is in communication with a display and measurement hardware configured to perform a measurement on a sample, and wherein the at least one code section causes the machine to perform acts of:

continuously communicating, via the display, a first pre-analytical procedure of the sample prior to measurement of the sample for an amount of time needed for performing the first pre-analytical procedure; and

after the time needed for performing the first pre-analytical procedure has elapsed, communicating, via the display, a second pre-analytical procedure the sample prior to measurement of the sample.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable according to claim 15, wherein the at least one code section is executable by the machine for causing the machine to communicate the second pre-analytical procedure automatically after the time needed for performing the first procedure has elapsed.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable according to claim 15, wherein the at least one code section is executable by the machine for causing the machine to wait until an operator indicates a readiness to proceed before communicating the second pre-analytical procedure.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable according to claim 17, wherein the at least one code section is executable by the machine for causing the machine to generate, on the display, a graphical button and enable the graphical button for operator input after the time needed for performing the first pre-analytical procedure has elapsed.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable according to claim 18, wherein the at least one code section is executable by the machine for causing the machine to display on the button an indication of the elapsed time or the remaining time.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable according to claim 15, wherein the first pre-analytical procedure comprises warming of the sample.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable according to claim 20, wherein the second pre-analytical procedure comprises mixing of the sample.