JP2002040034A - Specimen sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specimen sorting device capable of quickly and precisely automatically sorting a specimen vessel every kind of examination without changing the existing operation in a hospital or examination center or requiring a change of the program of a host computer. SOLUTION: This specimen sorting device comprises a specimen vessel input part 1 for setting the specimen vessels 1 containing a specimen; a specimen vessel carrying means 2 for carrying the specimen vessel 1; a recognition means 3 for recognizing the characteristic of the specimen vessel 1 in the middle of the carrying of the specimen vessel 1 by the carrying means 2; a determination means 4 for determining the designation of the specimen vessel 11 on the basis of the characteristic of the specimen vessel 11 recognized by the recognizing means 3; a specimen transfer means 5 for transferring the specimen vessel 1 to the designation determined by the determination means 4; and a specimen housing part 6 for housing the specimen vessel 1 transferred by the transfer means 5 in the designation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample sorting apparatus for sorting samples collected as clinical tests for each type of test.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Samples to be subjected to clinical tests include serum,
There are various things such as plasma and urine, which are stored in sample containers for each sample, closed, and collected in a test center or a test room of a hospital. At inspection centers and laboratories, a large number of collected samples are sorted for each type of test, and necessary pretreatment such as centrifugation or opening is performed according to the type, and finally the target test is performed. And report the results.

[0003] In such clinical examinations at hospitals and test centers, it is an important issue how to process collected specimens quickly and accurately and report the results.

Therefore, conventionally, the length, thickness, stopper shape, stopper color, and the like of the sample container are distinguished for each test type of the sample, and the sample containers are manually separated for each test type based on the distinction. Sorting and necessary processing are performed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-142232 discloses a method of automatically sorting sample containers for each test type, which includes a patient ID consisting of a bar code attached to a sample container.
Is read by a barcode reader, and a sample container is grasped by a robot hand based on the read result and is moved to a sample distribution rack storage unit corresponding to an examination type.

[0006]

However, when the sample containers are manually sorted for each test type, it is difficult to sort a large number of sample containers efficiently and promptly, and the sample containers must be sorted by the test type. Even if they are distinguished from each other, there is a risk that they will be sorted incorrectly.

[0007] As disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-142232, when a patient ID attached to a sample container is read and automatically sorted, usually,
Sample containers collected from one patient have the same patient ID
In the case of collecting a plurality of types of samples having different test types from the same patient, it is necessary to change the ID for each type of sample.

However, if the ID of a sample from the same patient is changed as described above, it is necessary to change a program of a host computer for processing test data and the like, and therefore, when the apparatus is installed economically and operationally. There is a problem that the obstacles are large.

Therefore, an object of the present invention made in view of the above point is that a sample container can be stored for each test type without changing the current operation in a hospital or a test center, and without changing the program of a host computer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sample sorting apparatus capable of automatically and quickly sorting automatically.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample sorting apparatus for mounting a sample container containing a sample, and a sample container transporter for transporting the sample container. Means, recognition means for recognizing the characteristics of the sample container during the transfer of the sample container by the sample container transfer means, and a sorting destination of the sample container based on the characteristics of the sample container recognized by the recognition means. Determining means for determining, a sample transferring means for transferring the sample container to the sorting destination determined by the determining means, and a sample storage unit for storing the sample container transferred by the sample transferring means at the sorting destination. It is characterized by having.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the sample sorting apparatus according to the first aspect, the recognizing means includes at least one of the external dimensions of the sample container, the shape of the stopper of the sample container, the color of the stopper, and the presence or absence of the stopper. It is configured to recognize three external features.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the sample sorting apparatus according to the first aspect, the recognizing means is configured to recognize a visual feature of the sample in the sample container. It is.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a sample sorting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of a main part of the first embodiment. The sample sorting apparatus includes a sample container input unit 1, a sample container transport unit 2, a recognition unit 3, a determination unit 4, a sample transfer unit 5, a sample storage unit 6, and a sample storage container collection unit 7.

A plurality of sample containers 11 each containing a sample, here, five sample containers 1
A large number of sample storage containers 12 storing the sample storage containers 1 can be set side by side, and the sample storage containers 12 set in the sample container input section 1 are automatically fed out one by one and transported by the sample container transport means 2. I do.

The sample container transport means 2 includes a sample container input unit 1
Is transported to the sample container recognition position 13 where the features of each sample container 11 stored in the sample storage container 12 are recognized.

In the present embodiment, as a feature of the sample container 11, the color of the stopper is recognized, and each sample container 11 is sorted according to the test type based on the color.

That is, as shown in Table 1, for example, as shown in Table 1, the sample containers 11 are different in the color of the stopper depending on the type of test, and are sold by the manufacturer. The containers 11 are sorted for each inspection type.

[0019]

[Table 1]

For this reason, the recognizing means 3 is constituted by using, for example, a CCD camera, a color sensor, a line sensor or the like so that the color of the stopper can be recognized. Then, the determining unit 4 determines the sorting destination of each sample container 11 based on the correspondence table between the preset stopper color and the sorting destination.

After the recognition of the color of the stopper of each sample container 11 stored in the sample container 12 at the sample container recognition position 13 is completed, the sample container 12 is then sorted by the sample container transporting means 2. The sample container 11 is transported to the position 14, where each sample container 11 is taken out of the sample storage container 12 by the sample transfer unit 5, and is sorted and stored in the sample storage unit 6 according to the sorting destination determined by the determination unit 4.

Here, the sample transfer means 5 is constituted by using, for example, a known robot hand 5a movable in three-dimensional directions and its controller 5b, and is controlled by the controller 5b according to the sorting destination determined by the determination means 4. By controlling the operation of the robot hand 5a, each sample container 11 stored in the sample storage container 12 is grasped and taken out by the robot hand 5a, and transferred to the sorting destination of the sample storage unit 6 and stored therein. The sample container 6 includes, for example, three sample container containers 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3 corresponding to three test types. A large number of empty sample storage containers 15 having the configuration shown in FIG.
Are sorted by the sample transfer means 5 based on the recognized color of the stopper and stored in the sample storage container 15 of the corresponding sample container storage section.

[0023]

[Table 2]

In FIG. 1, the circles ● of the sample storage containers 12 and 15 indicate a state in which the sample container 11 is stored, and the circles ○ indicate an empty state in which the sample container 11 is not stored. I have.

At the sample sorting position 14, the sample container 11
After the sorting of the sample storage containers 12 is completed, the sample storage container 12 is transported to the sample storage container recovery unit 7 by the sample container transport unit 2 and collected.

According to the present embodiment, the color of the stopper according to the test type of the sample container 11 is recognized and each sample container 11 is automatically sorted for each test type. Even when collecting different types of samples,
There is no need to change the ID for each type of sample. Therefore,
It can be introduced easily and inexpensively without changing the current operation in a hospital or an examination center, and without changing the program of the host computer.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a configuration of a main part of a second embodiment of the sample sorting apparatus according to the present invention.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that sample container transport units 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3 are provided so as to be connected to sample container storage units 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3, respectively. The sample storage containers 15 storing the sample containers 11 sorted into the respective sample container storage units are automatically transferred to a desired transfer destination such as a test apparatus or a preprocessing unit corresponding to the test type by a corresponding sample container transport unit. At the same time, the sample container transport means 21-4 is also connected to the sample storage container collection unit 7,
The collected sample storage container 12 is automatically transferred to a desired transfer destination, and other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a series of operations of sorting the sample containers 11 for each test type and transferring the sorted sample containers 11 to a desired processing unit are automatically performed. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the collected specimen can be processed faster and more accurately.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified or changed. For example, in the above embodiment, the sample container 6 is divided into three sample container containers 6-1, 3-1 corresponding to three test types.
6-2 and 6-3, it is also possible to provide a sample container accommodating section corresponding to a larger number of test types, or to provide a sample container 15 to be set in each sample container accommodating section.
Alternatively, the one used in the corresponding inspection apparatus can be set as it is. Further, the sample storage container collection unit 7 may be configured to function as a sample container storage unit corresponding to the test apparatus.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sample container 1
One of the features is that the color of the stopper is recognized, and each sample container 11 is sorted according to the test type according to the color. The configuration may be such that the colors (visual features) of the sample present are recognized and each sample container is sorted for each test type, or two or more features are recognized and sorted. The sample container 11 is used as the sample recognizing means 3.
The controller 5b may be set so as to read a patient ID such as a barcode provided in the sample storage container 15 and to control the arrangement order of the sample containers 11 in the sample storage container 15 by the robot hand 5a. In this case, the sample containers 11 are preferably placed in a desired order such as the order of reception of patients (or subjects such as blood donors), the order of names, and the order of priority.
Since the tests can be executed in the most efficient order for each test type, there is also an advantage that both the work efficiency of the entire test and the test efficiency for each patient can be improved. In addition, if necessary, the robot hand 5a
The number and the operation speed of the sample containers 11 are changed, and each sample container 11 is temporarily put on standby during transfer from the sample storage container 12 on the transporting means 2 to the sample storage container 15 in the sample storage unit 6. A standby accommodating portion for performing replacement, removing abnormal containers, and the like may be provided.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the characteristics of the sample containers are recognized and each sample container is automatically sorted for each test type, a plurality of types having different test types from the same patient can be obtained. Even when collecting specimens of
Sorting can be performed without changing D. Therefore, it can be introduced simply and inexpensively without changing the current operation in a hospital or an examination center, and without changing the program of the host computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a main part of a sample sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a main part of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 sample container input section 2 sample container transport means 3 recognition means 4 determination means 5 sample transfer means 5a robot hand 5b controller 6 sample storage section 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 sample container storage section 7 sample storage container recovery section 11 Sample Container 12 Sample Storage Container 13 Sample Container Recognition Position 14 Sample Sorting Position 15 Sample Storage Container 21-1, 21-2, 21-3, 21-4 Sample Container Transport Means

Claims (3)

[Claims] A sample container loading unit for installing a sample container containing a sample; a sample container transport unit for transporting the sample container; and a feature of the sample container during transport of the sample container by the sample container transport unit. Recognizing means for recognizing the sample container; determining means for determining a sorting destination of the sample container based on the characteristics of the sample container recognized by the recognizing means; and transferring the sample container to the sorting destination determined by the determining means. 1. A sample sorting apparatus, comprising: a sample transfer unit that performs sample transfer; and a sample storage unit that stores the sample container transferred by the sample transfer unit at a sorting destination. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recognizing means includes an external dimension of the sample container,
2. The sample sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample sorting apparatus is configured to recognize at least one external feature of the shape, the color of the stopper, and the presence or absence of the stopper of the sample container. 3. The sample sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recognition means is configured to recognize a visual feature of the sample in the sample container.