Quality control and support method for analyzer

• US 6,937,964 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Tadayuki, Sugiyama, Tomomi, Okuno, Ken'ichi, Morihara, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US10/620,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 702/116, 702120-123, 702187-188, 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 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 troubles 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 can perform external quality control in real time.

Claims

1. A control device for controlling a plurality of analyzers which are connected by a network, comprising:

collecting means for collecting log information from each of the analyzers via the network;

storing means for storing the collected log information;

display means for displaying a screen which displays predetermined log information selected from the stored log information; and

screen controlling means for controlling the screen which is displayed by the display means;

wherein the screen controlling means controls to display an analyzer designation screen for designating the a specific analyzer from the analyzers.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein

the screen controlling means controls to display a collected result screen of the specific analyzer designated by the analyzer designation screen, the collected result screen displaying the collected log information.

3. The control device of claim 2, wherein

the log information comprises operational information of the analyzer and sample data obtained by measuring a quality control substance.

4. The control device of claim 2, wherein

the log information comprises operational information, the collected result screen displaying the collected operational information.

5. The control device of claim 4, wherein

the collected result screen displays classified information obtained by classifying the collected operational information in categories.

6. The control device of claim 1, further comprising

communication control means for judging whether authentication information received from the analyzer corresponds to user information, and for determining whether the collecting means collects the log information from the analyzer based on the judging result.

7. A support method for analyzers adapted to be employed in a control device connected to a plurality of analyzers via a network, comprising steps of:

collecting quality control sample data from each of the analyzers through the network, the quality control sample data being obtained by measuring a quality control sample;

storing the collected quality control sample data in the control device;

tallying the stored quality control sample data so as to obtain tallying results; and

notifying the tally result to the analyzer through the network.

8. The support method for analyzers as set forth in claim 7, further comprising steps of

detecting a trouble of an analyzer based on the quality control sample data stored in the control device;

and

notifying the trouble to the analyzer.

9. A control device for controlling a plurality of analyzers which are connected by a network, comprising:

collecting means for collecting quality control sample data from the analyzers through the network, the quality control sample data being obtained by measuring a quality control sample;

storing means for storing the collected quality control sample data;

tallying means for tallying the stored quality control sample data and creating a tally result; and

providing means for providing the tally result to the analyzer through the network.

10. The control device of claim 9, wherein

the providing means provides the tally result in response to request from the analyzer.

11. The control device of claim 10, wherein

the providing means provides the tally result in response to a request from a WWW browser installed in the analyzer.

12. The control device of claim 9, wherein

the tally result includes a mean value of the collected quality control sample data collected within a predetermined timeframe.

13. The control device of claim 9, wherein

the collecting means collects reference data from a reference analyzer, and

the providing means provides the tally result including the reference data.

14. The control device of claim 9, wherein

the providing means provides the tally result to the analyzer to display a statistic graph based on the tally result on the analyzer.

15. A quality control method comprising:

transmitting quality control sample data that is obtained by measuring a quality control sample to a control device through a network;

receiving a tally result from the control device through the network; and

displaying the received tally result on a display.

16. The quality control method of claim 15, wherein

the tally result is obtained by tallying the quality control sample data obtained from a plurality of analyzers.

17. The quality control method of claim 15, wherein

the display is connected to an analyzer for measuring the quality control sample.

18. The quality control method of claim 15, wherein

the tally result is displayed by using a WWW browser.

19. The quality control method of claim 15, wherein

the tally result is received by accessing a Web page provided by the control device.

20. A computer program product comprising:

a computer code for transmitting quality control sample data that is obtained by measuring a quality control sample to a control device through a network;

a computer code for receiving a tally result from the control device through the network; and

a computer code for displaying the received tally result on a display.

21. A computer-readable storage medium having recorded therein a computer program that executes steps of:

transmitting quality control sample data that is obtained by measuring a quality control sample to a control device through a network;

receiving a tally result from the control device through the network; and

displaying the received tally result on a display.