CONTROL DEVICE AND ANALYZER

• US 20100057873A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Tadayuki, Sugiyama, Tomomi, Okuno, Ken'ichi, Morihara, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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. A control device which evaluates an examination result sent from at least one user terminal, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from a user terminal via a network, an examination result of a quality control sample assayed by at least one analyzing unit;

a processor configured to evaluate the received examination result and prepare a quality control report; and

a notifying section comprising a WWW server which is accessible from the user terminal, wherein the notifying section is configured to notify the quality control report to the user terminal via the network by putting up the quality control report on the WWW server.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the quality control report comprises a graphic display showing a history of examination results of the quality control sample assayed by the at least one analyzing unit.

4. The control device of claim 3, wherein the graphic display further shows a history of an average of the examination results of the quality control sample assayed by the at least one analyzing unit.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the receiver receives the examination result accompanied with at least one of a lot number of the quality control sample, a type of the quality control sample, an assay mode where the quality control sample was assayed, and an identification of the at least one analyzing unit which assayed the quality control sample.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares an examination result of the quality control sample assayed by one analyzing unit against examination results of the quality control sample received by the control device.

9. The control device of claim 1, wherein the receiver receives an e-mail containing the examination result.

2. (canceled)

5. A quality control method implemented in a control device which evaluates an examination result sent from at least one user terminal, the method comprising:

from a user terminal via a network, receiving an examination result of a quality control sample assayed by at least one analyzing unit;

evaluating the received examination result and preparing a Web page including a quality control report based on evaluation of the received the examination result; and

notifying the quality control report to the user terminal via the network by putting up the Web page on a WWW server which is accessible from the user terminal.

10. The quality control method of claim 5, wherein receiving an examination result comprises receiving an examination result accompanied with at least one of a lot number of the quality control sample, a type of the quality control sample, an assay mode where the quality control sample was assayed, and an identification of the at least one analyzing unit which assayed the quality control sample.

11. The quality control method of claim 5, wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares an examination result of the quality control sample assayed by one analyzing unit against examination results of the quality control sample received by the control device.

12. The quality control method of claim 5, wherein receiving an examination result comprises receiving an e-mail containing the examination result.

6. (canceled)

13. A control device which evaluates an examination result sent from at least one user terminal, the control device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from a user terminal via a network, an examination result of a quality control sample assayed by at least one analyzing unit, wherein the receiver receives the examination result accompanied with at least one of a lot number of the quality control sample, a type of the quality control sample, an assay mode where the quality control sample was assayed, and an identification of the at least one analyzing unit which assayed the quality control sample;

a processor configured to evaluate the received examination result and prepare a quality control report based on evaluation of the received examination result; and

a notifying section configured to notify the quality control report to the user terminal via network.

14. The control device of claim 13, wherein the quality control report comprises a graphic display showing a history of examination results of the quality control sample assayed by the at least one analyzing unit.

15. The control device of claim 14, wherein the graphic display further shows a history of an average of the examination results of the quality control sample assayed by the at least one analyzing unit.

16. The control device of claim 13, wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares an examination result of the quality control sample assayed by one analyzing unit against examination results of the quality control sample received by the control device.

17. The control device of claim 13, wherein the receiver receives an e-mail containing the examination result.

18. A quality control method implemented in a control device which evaluates an examination result sent from at least one user terminal, comprising:

from a user terminal via a network, receiving an examination result of a quality control sample assayed by at least one analyzing unit, wherein the result of examination is accompanied with at least one of a lot number of the quality control sample, a type of the quality control sample, an assay mode where the quality control sample was assayed, and an identification of the at least one analyzing unit which assayed the quality control sample;

evaluating the received examination result and preparing a quality control report based on evaluation of the received the examination result; and

notifying the quality control report to the user terminal via the network.

19. The quality control method of claim 18, wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares an examination result of the quality control sample assayed by one analyzing unit against examination results of the quality control sample received by the quality control device.

20. The quality control method of claim 18, wherein receiving an examination result comprises receiving an e-mail containing the examination result.

21. A control device which evaluates an examination result sent from at least one user terminal, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from a user terminal via a network, an examination result of a quality control sample assayed by at least one analyzing unit;

a processor configured to evaluate the received examination result and prepare a quality control report based on evaluation of the received examination result; and

a notifying section configured to notify the quality control report to the user terminal via the network,

wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares an examination result of the quality control sample assayed by one analyzing unit against examination results of the quality control sample received by the control device.

22. The control device of claim 21, wherein the quality control report comprises a graphic display showing a history of examination results of the quality control sample assayed by the at least one analyzing unit.

23. The control device of claim 22, wherein the graphic display further shows a history of an average of the examination results of the quality control sample assayed by the at least one analyzing unit.

24. The control device of claim 21, wherein the receiver receives an e-mail containing the examination result.

25. A quality control method implemented in a control device which evaluates an examination result sent from at least one user terminal, comprising:

from a user terminal via a network, receiving an examination result of a quality control sample assayed by at least one analyzing unit;

evaluating the received examination result and preparing a quality control report based on evaluation of the received the examination result; and

notifying the quality control report to the user terminal via the network,

wherein the quality control report comprises an external quality control report which statistically compares an examination result of the quality control sample assayed by one analyzing unit against examination results of the quality control sample received by the control device.

26. The quality control method of claim 25, wherein receiving an examination result comprises receiving an e-mail containing the examination result.

27. A control device which evaluates a result of examination sent from at least one user terminal, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from a user terminal via a network, an examination result of a quality control sample assayed by at least one analyzing unit, wherein the receiver receives an e-mail containing the examination result;

a processor configured to evaluate the received examination result and prepare a quality control report based on evaluation of the received examination result; and

a notifying section configured to notify the quality control report to the user terminal via the network.

28. The control device of claim 27, wherein the quality control report comprises a graphic display showing a history of examination results of the quality control sample assayed by the at least one analyzing unit.

29. The control device of claim 28, wherein the graphic display further shows a history of an average of the examination results of quality control sample assayed by the at least one analyzing unit.

30. A quality control method implemented in a control device which evaluates an examination result sent from at least one user terminal, comprising:

from a user terminal via a network, receiving an examination result of a quality control sample assayed by at least one analyzing unit, wherein the receiver receives an e-mail containing the examination result;

evaluating the received examination result and preparing a quality control report based on evaluation of the received the examination result; and

notifying the quality control report to the user terminal via the network.