Control device and analyzer

• US 7,403,873 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• 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): Raymond; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desta; Elias
• Application Number:
  US11/105,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20050177345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 702/116, 702120-123, 702/187, 702/188, 702/85, 702/90, 422/50, 422/62, 422/67, 436/8, 436/43, 436/50, 340500-501, 715751-752, 715/738, 715/700, 709204-207, 709/222
• 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. An analyzer connected to a control device via a network, comprising:

first creating means for creating first electronic mail in which error information to be sent is written in a main body, when an error occurs in the analyzer,

second creating means for creating second electronic mail in which assay data, obtained from a quality control substance, to be sent is written in a file attachment, when the analyzer assays the quality control substance, and

sending means for sending the first and second electronic mail to the control device via the network.

2. The analyzer of claim 1, further comprising,

a display for displaying the error information.

3. The analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the file attachment comprises a lot number of the quality control substance.

4. The analyzer of claim 1, further comprising,

a WWW browser for acquiring a web page from the control device via the network.

5. A control device for controlling an analyzer which is connected by a network, the control device comprising:

collecting means for collecting error information representing a type of error occurred in the analyzer from the analyzer via the network,

a memory for storing the collected error information for each analyzer;

determination means for determining error level of the error based on the collected error information; and

a display for displaying a screen which displays the error information so as to be capable of distinguishing from other error information based on the determined error level, the screen displaying the error information of a designated analyzer among the analyzers, wherein

the display displays first error information in a first color, if an error level of the first error information is greater than a predetermined error level, and

the display displays second error information in a second color that is different from the first color, if an error level of the second error information is not greater than the predetermined error level.

6. The control device of claim 5, wherein

the display displays the error information with time of occurrence of the error.

7. An analyzer connected to a control device via a network, comprising:

first creating means for creating first electronic mail which includes error information relating to an error occurred in the analyzer;

second creating means for creating second electronic mail to which a file is attached, the file including assay data obtained by assaying a quality control substance by the analyzer; and

sending means for sending the first and second electronic mail to the control device.

8. The analyzer of claim 7, wherein the error information is written in a main body of the first electronic mail.

9. The analyzer of claim 7, further comprising

third creating means for creating third electronic mail which includes operational information relating to an operation occurred in the analyzer, and wherein

the sending means further sends the third electronic mail to the control device.

10. The analyzer of claim 7, further comprising,

a display for displaying the error information.

11. The analyzer of claim 7, wherein

the file further includes a lot number of the quality control substance.

12. The analyzer of claim 7, further comprising,

a WWW browser for acquiring a web page from the control device via the network.