SAMPLE PROCESSING SYSTEM

• US 20120269681A1
• Filed: 04/17/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Tatsutani, Hiroo, Ariyoshi, Shunsuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/67
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00891 Displaying information to the operator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00722 Communications; Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes

Abstract

A sample processing system comprising: a sample processing apparatus configured to process a sample in a sample container; a transporting apparatus configured to transport a sample container to the sample processing apparatus; a first computer configured to perform information processing for the sample processing apparatus; a second computer connected to the first computer through a communication network and configured to control a transporting operation performed by the transporting apparatus; an input unit and a display commonly used for the first and second computers, wherein the first computer configured to control the display to show a first computer screen image, and to control the display to show a second computer screen image upon receiving a switching instruction via the input unit, and the second computer receives an input from the input unit via the second computer screen image shown on the display.

Claims

1. A sample processing system comprising:

a sample processing apparatus configured to process a sample in a sample container;

a transporting apparatus configured to transport a sample container to the sample processing apparatus;

a first computer configured to perform information processing for the sample processing apparatus;

a second computer connected to the first computer through a communication network and configured to control a transporting operation performed by the transporting apparatus;

an input unit commonly used for the first and second computers; and

a display unit commonly used for the first and second computers, wherein

the first computer is capable of controlling the display unit to show a first computer screen image for the first computer, and is capable of controlling the display unit to show a second computer screen image for the second computer by connecting to the second computer through the communication network,

the first computer controls the display unit to show the second computer screen image instead of the first computer screen image upon receiving a switching instruction via the input unit, and

the second computer receives an input from the input unit via the second computer screen image shown on the display unit.

2. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the first computer is capable of controlling the display unit to show the first computer screen image and a switching instruction part, and when the switching instruction part is operated by the input unit, the first computer connects to the second computer through the communication network to control the display unit to show the second computer screen image instead of the first computer screen image.

3. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the first computer screen image displays an item for controlling a processing operation performed by the sample processing apparatus and a state of the sample processing apparatus.

4. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the second computer screen image displays an item for controlling a transporting operation performed by the transporting apparatus and a state of the transporting apparatus.

5. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the first computer controls the display unit to show the second computer screen image and a second switching instruction part, and controls the display unit to show the first computer screen image instead of the second computer screen image when the second switching instruction part is operated by the input unit.

6. The sample processing system of claim 2, wherein

the first computer changes a display content on the first computer screen image in accordance with an input onto the first computer screen image, and continues showing the switching instruction part on the first computer screen image after the display content on the first computer screen image has been changed.

7. The sample processing system of claim 6, wherein

the first computer screen image includes a fixed area displayed at an identical location without being influenced by the change of the display content, and the first computer shows the switching instruction part in the fixed area.

8. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the first and second computers are accommodated inside a wagon supporting the transporting apparatus.

9. The sample processing system of claim 1, comprising

a touch panel including the input unit and the display unit.

10. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

while the first computer screen image is being shown on the display unit, the first computer monitors a state of the second computer and shows a result of the monitoring on the first computer screen image.

11. The sample processing system of claim 10, wherein

when the second computer has detected an abnormality in the transporting apparatus, the second computer transmits an abnormality signal to the first computer, and

when the first computer receives the abnormality signal from the second computer while the first computer screen image is being shown on the display unit, the first computer shows abnormality information on the first computer screen image.

12. The sample processing system of claim 11, wherein

the first computer includes a first audio terminal,

the second computer includes a second audio terminal connectable to the first audio terminal via a cable,

the second computer is configured to output an audio signal from the second audio terminal to the first audio terminal when the second computer has detected the abnormality in the transporting apparatus, and

when the audio signal is inputted from the second computer via the first audio terminal while the first computer screen image is being shown on the display unit, the first computer shows the abnormality information on the first computer screen image.

13. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the sample processing apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to measure a sample by using a reagent, and

the first computer screen image includes an area to be used when an operation for replacing a reagent in the measurement unit is manually performed.

14. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the first computer obtains abnormality occurrence information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the sample processing apparatus, and shows the occurrence of the abnormality in the sample processing apparatus on the first computer screen image, based on the abnormality occurrence information.

15. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the transporting apparatus includes a plurality of transporting units, and

the second computer obtains second abnormality occurrence information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in one of the plurality of transporting units, and shows, on the second computer screen image, an arrangement of the plurality of transporting units in a facility where the transporting apparatus is installed such that said one transporting unit can be identified, based on the second abnormality occurrence information.

16. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the sample processing apparatus is configured to measure a sample to obtain measurement data, and

the first computer performs analysis processing of the measurement data obtained by the sample processing apparatus, as the information processing for the sample processing apparatus.

17. The sample processing system of claim 16, wherein

the sample processing apparatus is configured to measure blood to obtain characteristic data reflecting characteristic of blood cells in the blood as the measurement data, and

the first computer obtains at least a number of blood cells based on the characteristic data obtained by the sample processing apparatus.

18. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

when the first computer has detected an abnormality in the sample processing apparatus while the second computer screen image is being shown on the display unit, the first computer shows abnormality information on the second computer screen image.

19. The sample processing system of claim 18, wherein

the sample processing apparatus is configured to process a sample by using a reagent, and

the first computer detects a shortage of a reagent in the sample processing apparatus, as the abnormality in the sample processing apparatus.

20. The sample processing system of claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of the sample processing apparatuses; and

an identification information obtainer configured to obtain identification information of a sample from a sample container transported by the transporting apparatus, wherein

the second computer determines a transportation destination for the sample from among the plurality of the sample processing apparatuses, based on the identification information obtain by the identification information obtainer, and controls the transporting apparatus so as to transport the sample to the determined transportation destination.

21. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

the input unit and the display unit are connected to the first computer.

22. The sample processing system of claim 1, wherein

each of the first and second computers comprises a processer, a memory and a communication interface.

23. A sample processing system comprising:

a sample processing apparatus configured to process a sample in a sample container;

a transporting apparatus configured to transport a sample container to the sample processing apparatus;

a first computer configured to perform information processing for the sample processing apparatus;

a second computer connected to the first computer through a communication network and configured to control a transporting operation performed by the transporting apparatus;

an input unit commonly used for the first and second computers; and

a display unit commonly used for the first and second computers, wherein

the second computer is capable of controlling the display unit to show a second computer screen image for the second computer, and is capable of controlling the display unit to show a first computer screen image for the first computer by connecting to the first computer through the communication network,

the second computer controls the display unit to show the first computer screen image instead of the second computer screen image upon receiving a switching instruction via the input unit, and

the first computer receives an input from the input unit via the first computer screen image shown on the display unit.

24. A sample processing system comprising:

a plurality of sample processing apparatuses each configured to process a sample in a sample container;

a first computer configured to perform information processing for at least a first sample processing apparatus among the plurality of sample processing apparatuses;

a second computer connected to the first computer through a communication network and configured to perform information processing for at least a second sample processing apparatus which is different from the first sample processing apparatus among the plurality of sample processing apparatuses;

an input unit commonly used for the first and second computers; and

a display unit commonly used for the first and second computers, wherein

the first computer is capable of controlling the display unit to show a first computer screen image for the first computer, and is capable of controlling the display unit to show a second computer screen image for the second computer by connecting to the second computer through the communication network,

the first computer controls the display unit to show the second computer screen image instead of the first computer screen image upon receiving a switching instruction via the input unit, and

the second computer receives an input from the input unit via the second computer screen image shown on the display unit.

25. A sample processing system comprising:

a sample processing apparatus configured to process a sample in a sample container;

a transporting apparatus configured to transport a sample container to the sample processing apparatus;

a plurality of computers connected to each other through a communication network and each configured to perform information processing for the sample processing system;

an input unit commonly used for the plurality of computers; and

a display unit commonly used for the plurality of computers, wherein

a first computer among the plurality of computers is capable of controlling the display unit to show a first computer screen image for the first computer, and is capable of controlling the display unit to show a second computer screen image for a second computer among the plurality of computers through the communication network by connecting to a the second computer,

when the first computer received a switching instruction via the input unit and the second computer is specified, the first computer controls the display unit to show the second computer screen image instead of the first computer screen image, and

the second computer receives an input from the input unit via the second computer screen image shown on the display unit.