Control device and analyzer

• US 7,606,680 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Tadayuki, Sugiyama, Tomomi, Okuno, Ken'ichi, Morihara, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desta; Elias
• Application Number:
  US11/839,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 702/179, 702187-188, 702/122, 422/50, 422/62, 422/67, 436/8, 436/43, 436/50, 340500-501
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive

Abstract

The present invention quickly resolves troubles in an analyzer and performs effective external quality control management. An analyzer (2) and a control device (1) are connected by a network (3). Error data and sample data taken from an assay of a quality control substance are transmitted from the control device (1) to the analyzer (2). The analyzer (2) is made to be remotely operable from the control device (1) and when problems arise, repair from the control device (1) is possible. The control device (1) tallies sample data and provides the tally results to a Web page. The analyzer (2) accesses the Web page using a WWW browser, and it can perform external quality control in real time.

Claims

1. An analyzer for use in examining samples, which communicates with a control device via a network, comprising:

at least one analyzing unit configured to assay a sample to examine at least one analyte contained in the sample;

a sample identifier configured to determine whether the sample is a sample for quality control containing a controlled analyte; and

a transmitter configured to transmit, when the sample identifier determines that the sample is a sample for the quality control, a result of examination of the sample to the control device via the network, wherein the transmitter transmits the examination result accompanied with at least one of a lot number of the sample for the quality control, a type of the sample, an assay mode under which the sample was examined, and an identification of the analyzer.

2. The analyzer of claim 1, further comprising a display configured to display a quality control report prepared at the control device.

3. The analyzer of claim 2, wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares the result of examination of the sample, which was performed at the analyzer, against a result of examination of the sample which was performed at at least one other analyzer.

4. The analyzer of claim 2, further comprising a WWW browser for display of the quality control report put up on a Web page by the control device.

5. The analyzer of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises an e-mail handler configured to transmit to the control device an e-mail including the result of examination of the sample.

6. The analyzer of claim 5, wherein the e-mail handler attaches the e-mail with a file including the result of examination of the sample.

7. The analyzer of claim 5, wherein the e-mail further includes authentication information of the analyzer.

8. The analyzer of claim 7, wherein the authentication information is in an text of the e-mail.

9. A quality control method implemented in an analyzer for use in examining samples, comprising:

assaying a sample to examine at least one analyte contained in the sample;

determining whether the sample is a sample for quality control containing a controlled analyte; and

when the sample is determined a sample for the quality control, transmitting a result of examination of the sample to the control device via a network, wherein the examination result is transmitted, along with at least one of a lot number of the sample for the quality control, a type of the sample, an assay mode under which the sample was examined, and an identification of the analyzer.

10. The quality control method of claim 9, further comprising displaying a quality control report prepared at the control device.

11. The quality control method of claim 10, wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares the result of examination of the sample, which was performed at the analyzer, against a result of examination of the sample which was performed at atleast one other analyzer.

12. The quality control method of claim 10, wherein displaying a quality control report comprises displaying the quality control report put up on a Web page by the control device.

13. The quality control method of claim 9, wherein transmitting a result of examination comprise transmitting to the control device an e-mail containing the result of examination.

14. An analyzer for use in examining samples, which communicates with a control device via a network, comprising:

at least one analyzing unit configured to assay a sample to examine at least one analyte contained in the sample;

a sample identifier configured to determine whether the sample is a sample for quality control containing a controlled analyte;

a transmitter configured to transmit, when the sample identifier determines that the sample is a sample for the quality control, a result of examination of the sample to the control device via the network; and

a display configured to display a quality control report prepared at the control device, wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares the result of examination of the sample, which was performed at the analyzer, against a result of examination of the sample which was performed at at least one other analyzer.

15. An analyzer for use in examining samples, which communicates with a control device via a network, comprising:

at least one analyzing unit configured to assay a sample to examine at least one analyte contained in the sample;

a sample identifier configured to determine whether the sample is a sample for quality control containing a controlled analyte;

a transmitter configured to transmit, when the sample identifier determines that the sample is a sample for the quality control, a result of examination of the sample to the control device via the network;

a display configured to display a quality control report prepared at the control device; and

a WWW browser for display of the quality control report put up on a Web page by the control device.

16. An analyzer for use in examining samples, which communicates with a control device via a network, comprising:

at least one analyzing unit configured to assay a sample to examine at least one analyte contained in the sample;

a sample identifier configured to determine whether the sample is a sample for quality control containing a controlled analyte; and

a transmitter configured to transmit, when the sample identifier determines that the sample is a sample for the quality control, a result of examination of the sample to the control device via the network, wherein the transmitter comprises an e-mail handler configured to transmit to the control device an e-mail including the result of examination of the sample.

17. The analyzer of claim 16, wherein the e-mail handler attaches the e-mail with a file including the result of examination of the sample.

18. The analyzer of claim 16, wherein the e-mail further includes authentication information of the analyzer.

19. The analyzer of claim 18, wherein the authentication information is in an text of the e-mail.

20. A quality control method implemented in an analyzer for use in examining samples, comprising:

assaying a sample to examine at least one analyte contained in the sample;

determining whether the sample is a sample for quality control containing a controlled analyte;

when the sample is determined a sample for the quality control, transmitting a result of examination of the sample to the control device via a network; and

displaying a quality control report prepared at the control device, wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares the result of examination of the sample, which was performed at the analyzer, against a result of examination of the sample which was performed at at least one other analyzer.

21. A quality control method implemented in an analyzer for use in examining samples, comprising:

assaying a sample to examine at least one analyte contained in the sample;

determining whether the sample is a sample for quality control containing a controlled analyte;

when the sample is determined a sample for the quality control, transmitting a result of examination of the sample to the control device via a network; and

displaying a quality control report prepared and put up on a Web page by the control device.

22. A quality control method implemented in an analyzer for use in examining samples, comprising:

assaying a sample to examine at least one analyte contained in the sample;

determining whether the sample is a sample for quality control containing a controlled analyte; and

when the sample is determined a sample for the quality control, transmitting an e-mail including a result of examination of the sample to the control device via a network.