Hematology analyzing system and analyzer

• US 9,297,819 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Ausdenmoore, James, Osella, Peter, Taylor, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Rotaru, Octavian
• Application Number:
  US13/189,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20130024247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 705/7.42, 435/3, 435/286.1, 715/709
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00613 Quality control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function

Abstract

An analyzing system includes an analyzer and a server computer in communication with the analyzer via a network. The analyzer includes a first controller that is configured to communicate, via a display, instructions to an operator of the analyzer when a predetermined event occurs in the analyzer. The instructions request confirmation that the operator received training. The first controller is also configured to receive an indication of whether the operator has completed the training, and, when the indication indicates that the operator has completed the training, request, from the server, a confirmation that the operator has completed the training. The server computer is configured to receive the confirmation request from the analyzer, determine a training status of the operator, and communicate the training status to the analyzer. The first controller prevents measurement of a sample if the operator has not completed the training.

Claims

1. A medical analyzing system configured to insure that an operator has completed training to operate the medical analyzing system and that patients'"'"' blood samples are properly prepared, the medical analyzing system comprising:

a server and a hematology analyzer in communication with the server via a network, the hematology analyzer further comprising;

a display,

a processor, and

measurement hardware further comprising;

a pipette configured to draw each of the patients'"'"' blood samples from each of corresponding sample vials, a chamber configured to mix the patients'"'"' blood samples drawn by the pipette and a reagent, and a detector configured to detect a signal of each blood cell contained in the mixed patients'"'"' blood samples, wherein

the processor is programmed to;

start the hematology analyzer;

output, via the display, a screen image before measuring the patients'"'"' blood samples requesting the operator to input confirmation regarding whether the operator is trained in using the hematology analyzer;

receive, via the screen image, a response regarding whether or not the operator is trained in using the hematology analyzer;

when the response indicates that the operator has failed to complete the training, prevent measurement of the patients'"'"' blood samples by the measurement hardware by powering off the hematology analyzer, or outputting, via the display, the screen image again, and when the response indicates that the operator has completed the training, request, to the server, a confirmation whether the operator has completed the training and communicate the confirmation from the server back to the hematology analyzer to allow the measurement hardware to further perform a quality check;

output, via the display, after the operator has completed the training, instructions to run the quality check on a first sample vial;

when the first sample vial has failed the quality check once, output, via the display, instructions to rerun the quality check on the first sample vial;

when the first sample vial has failed the quality check more than once, output, via the display, instructions to select a new first sample vial and rerun the quality check;

when the first sample vial has passed the quality check, output, via the display, instructions to run the quality check on a second sample vial;

when the second sample vial has failed the quality check once, output, via the display, instructions to rerun the quality check on the second sample vial;

when the second sample vial has failed quality check more than once output, via the display, instructions to select a new second sample vial and rerun the quality check;

when the second sample vial has passed the quality control check subsequent to the first sample vial also passing the quality control check, perform the measurement of the patients'"'"' blood samples.

2. The medical analyzing system according to claim 1, wherein when the operator has failed to complete the training, the processor is further configured to communicate, via the display, further instructions to the operator to complete the training.

3. The medical analyzing system according to claim 1, wherein when the operator has completed the training, the processor is further configured to communicate, via the display, process instructions for preparing the measurement of the patients'"'"' blood samples.

4. The medical analyzing system according to claim 3, wherein the process instructions request performance of a procedure selected from a group consisting of:

replacing the reagent, and performing maintenance of the hematology analyzer.

5. The medical analyzing system according to claim 1, wherein the hematology analyzer is started by powering on the hematology analyzer.

6. The medical analyzing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to allow the operator to log into the hematology analyzer after the start of the hematology analyzer.

7. The medical analyzing system according to claim 1, wherein the server is configured to search a database to determine a status of the training for the operator.

8. The medical analyzing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to output at least one object on the display to be selected by the operator when the operator inputs the response.

9. The medical analyzing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to output a first object to be selected by the operator when the operator inputs the response indicating that the operator has completed the training, and a second object to be selected by the operator when the operator inputs the response indicating that the operator has failed to complete the training.

10. A hematology analyzer configured to insure that an operator has completed training to operate the hematology analyzer and that patients'"'"' blood samples are properly prepared, the hematology analyzer comprising:

a display,

a processor, and

measurement hardware further comprising;

a pipette configured to draw each of the patients'"'"' blood samples from each of corresponding sample vials, a chamber configured to mix the patients'"'"' blood samples drawn by the pipette and a reagent, and a detector configured to detect a signal of each blood cell contained in the mixed patients'"'"' blood samples, wherein the processor is programmed to;

start the hematology analyzer;

output, via the display, a screen image before measuring the patients'"'"' blood samples requesting the operator to input confirmation regarding whether the operator is trained in using the hematology analyzer;

receive, via the screen image, a response regarding whether or not the operator is trained in using the hematology analyzer;

when the response indicates that the operator has failed to complete the training, prevent measurement of the patients'"'"' blood samples by the measurement hardware by powering off the hematology analyzer, or outputting, via the display, the screen image again, and when the response indicates that the operator has completed the training, request, to a server communicating via a network to the hematology analyzer, a confirmation whether the operator has completed the training and communicate the confirmation from the server back to the hematology analyzer to allow the measurement hardware to further perform a quality check;

output, via the display, after the operator has completed the training, instructions to run the quality check on a first sample vial;

when the first sample vial has failed the quality check once, output, via the display, instructions to rerun the quality check on the first sample vial;

when the first sample vial has failed the quality check more than once, output, via the display, instructions to select a new first sample vial and rerun the quality check;

when the first sample vial has passed the quality check, output, via the display, instructions to run the quality check on a second sample vial;

when the second sample vial has failed the quality check once, output, via the display, instructions to rerun the quality check on the second sample vial;

when the second sample vial has failed quality check more than once output, via the display, instructions to select a new second sample vial and rerun the quality check;

when the second sample vial has passed the quality control check subsequent to the first sample vial also passing the quality control check, perform the measurement of the patients'"'"' blood samples.

11. The hematology analyzer according to claim 10, wherein when the operator has failed to complete the training, the processor is further configured to communicate, via the display, further instructions to the operator to complete the training.

12. The hematology analyzer according to claim 10, wherein when the operator has completed the training, the processor is further configured to communicate, via the display, process instructions for preparing the measurement of the patients'"'"' blood samples.

13. The hematology analyzer according to claim 12, wherein the process instructions request performance of a procedure selected from a group consisting of:

replacing the reagent, and performing maintenance of the hematology analyzer.

14. The hematology analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the hematology analyzer is started by powering on the hematology analyzer.

15. The hematology analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to allow the operator to log into the hematology analyzer after the start of the hematology analyzer.

16. The hematology analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to output at least one object on the display to be selected by the operator when the operator inputs the response.

17. The hematology analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to output a first object to be selected by the operator when the operator inputs the response indicating that the operator has completed the training, and a second object to be selected by the operator when the operator inputs the response indicating that the operator has failed to complete the training.