阅读说明：本技术 试料处理装置、保持部以及试料测定系统 (Sample processing device, holding unit, and sample measurement system ) 是由 山田和宏 浅尾和毅 桑野桂辅 于 2020-08-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供能够不使构造变得复杂,且抑制按照与操作者所期望的方法不同的方法来处理试料的试料处理装置、保持部以及试料测定系统。本发明的试料处理装置(100、100a、100b、200)为进行针对收容于容器的试料的处理的试料处理装置,所述试料处理装置具备：多个保持部(51～56),保持容器,形状互不相同；保持部配置部(140、240),具备形状互不相同的多个保持部容纳部(141、20),该多个保持部容纳部(141、20)对应于所述多个保持部各自的形状；以及试料处理部(105、280),进行针对由配置于所述保持部配置部的所述保持部所保持的容器所收容的试料的处理。(The invention provides a sample processing device, a holding unit and a sample measuring system, which can prevent a sample from being processed according to a method different from a method expected by an operator without complicating the structure. A sample processing device (100, 100a, 100b, 200) according to the present invention is a sample processing device for processing a sample contained in a container, the sample processing device including: a plurality of holding parts (51-56) for holding containers, the shapes of which are different from each other; a holding portion arrangement portion (140, 240) having a plurality of holding portion accommodation portions (141, 20) having shapes different from each other, the plurality of holding portion accommodation portions (141, 20) corresponding to the shapes of the plurality of holding portions; and a sample processing unit (105, 280) that performs a process on a sample contained in a container held by the holding unit disposed in the holding unit disposition section.)

1. A sample processing device for performing a process on a sample contained in a container, the sample processing device comprising:

a plurality of holding portions for holding the container, the plurality of holding portions having different shapes;

a holding portion arrangement portion including a plurality of holding portion accommodating portions having shapes different from each other, the plurality of holding portion accommodating portions corresponding to respective shapes of the plurality of holding portions; and

and a sample processing unit configured to process the sample contained in the container held by the holding unit disposed in the holding unit disposition unit.

2. The sample processing device according to claim 1, wherein,

the holding portion accommodating portion has a shape capable of accommodating the holding portion only in a predetermined orientation.

3. The sample processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the sample processing device further includes a holding portion detection unit that detects that the holding portion is disposed in the holding portion placement unit.

4. The sample processing device according to claim 3, wherein,

the sample processing device further includes a control unit that allows the sample processing unit to perform a process on the sample accommodated in the detected holding unit when the holding unit detection unit detects that the holding unit is disposed in the holding unit disposition unit.

5. The sample processing device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein,

the sample processing device further includes a start instruction receiving unit that receives a processing start instruction for the sample,

the control unit prohibits the sample processing unit from performing the process on the sample when the holding unit is not detected by the holding unit detection unit after the start instruction receiving unit receives the process start instruction for the sample.

6. The sample processing device according to claim 5, wherein,

the sample processing device further comprises a report section,

the control unit activates the notification unit when the holding unit detection unit does not detect that the holding unit is disposed in the holding unit disposition unit after the start instruction receiving unit receives the processing start instruction for the sample.

7. The sample processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein,

the sample processing device further includes a support portion that detachably supports the holding portion arrangement portion.

8. The sample processing device according to claim 7, wherein,

the support portion has a shape that accommodates the holding portion arrangement portion only in a predetermined orientation.

9. The sample processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit for storing sequence information of the sample disposed in the holding unit disposition unit; and

and a control unit for controlling the sample processing unit based on the sequence information.

10. A holding part, wherein,

the holding portion is the holding portion according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A sample measurement system is provided with:

a sample preparation device for preparing a sample using a reagent; and

a measurement device for measuring the sample modulated by the sample modulation device,

in the sample measurement system, the sample is measured,

the sample preparation device prepares the sample in a container,

the measurement device is provided with:

a plurality of holding portions for holding the container, the plurality of holding portions having different shapes;

a holding portion arrangement portion including a plurality of holding portion accommodating portions having shapes different from each other, the plurality of holding portion accommodating portions corresponding to respective shapes of the plurality of holding portions; and

and a sample processing unit configured to process the sample contained in the container held by the holding unit disposed in the holding unit disposition unit.

12. A sample processing method for performing a process on a sample contained in a container, the sample processing method comprising:

arranging 1 st and 2 nd holding parts having different shapes and formed to hold at least one container, respectively, on a holding part accommodating part of a sample measuring device, the shapes of the holding part accommodating parts being different from each other and corresponding to the shapes of the holding parts;

distributing, by the sample measurement device, the sample in the at least one container on the holding portion held by the holding portion housing portion; and

the sample in the container held by the holding unit is processed by the sample measuring device.

13. The sample processing method according to claim 12, wherein,

each of the holding portion accommodating portions has a shape that accommodates each of the holding portions only in a predetermined orientation.

14. The sample processing method according to claim 12, further comprising:

the sample measuring device detects the holding part disposed in the holding part disposing part.

15. The sample processing method according to claim 14, further comprising:

the processing is triggered in response to detecting the holding section on a holding section arrangement section.

16. The sample processing method according to claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a sample processing start instruction; and

and a control unit configured to control the holding unit to hold the holding unit in the holding unit arrangement section, when the holding unit is not detected by the holding unit arrangement section after the sample processing start instruction is received.

17. The sample processing method according to claim 16, further comprising:

when the holding unit is not detected by the holding unit arrangement unit after receiving the sample processing start instruction, the notification is given to a user of the sample processing apparatus.

18. The sample processing method according to claim 12, wherein,

the holding portion arrangement portion is detachably supported by the support portion.

19. The sample processing method according to claim 18, wherein,

the support portion has a shape that accommodates the holding portion arrangement portion only in a predetermined orientation.

20. The sample processing method according to claim 12, further comprising:

storing, in a storage unit, sequence information of the sample stored in the container held by the holding unit disposed in the holding unit disposition unit; and

processing the sample based on the sequence information.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sample processing device, a holder (holder), and a sample measurement system.

Background

A sample processing apparatus is known which performs processing such as centrifugal separation, unsealing, and sample dispensing on a sample such as blood or urine and a container containing the sample. As such a sample processing device, for example, an automatic system for inspecting a test object described in patent document 1 includes: a detection object input part which is provided with a plurality of tray accommodating parts for accommodating detection object trays holding a plurality of detection objects; and a sample processing section such as a centrifuge section, an unsealing section, and a dispensing section. The automatic system for inspecting a test object switches the method of processing the test object by the sample processing section based on the identifier attached to the test object tray accommodated in the tray accommodating section, the accommodating position of the test object tray, or the partition position of the test object tray.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: international publication No. 2011-148897

Disclosure of Invention

In the inspection automation system for a test object described in patent document 1, when the processing method of the test object is switched according to the identifier attached to the test object tray, an identifier reading device needs to be provided, and the device structure becomes complicated. When the processing method of the detection object is switched according to the storage position of the detection object tray or the partition position of the detection object tray, the identifier reading device is not needed, but if the operator mistakenly finds the storage position of the detection object tray, the detection object is processed according to a method different from the method expected by the operator.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a sample processing device, a holding unit, and a sample measurement system that can process a sample according to a method desired by an operator without complicating the structure.

A sample processing device (100, 100a, 100b, 200) according to the present invention is a sample processing device for processing a sample contained in a container, the sample processing device including: a plurality of holding parts (51-56) for holding containers, the shapes of which are different from each other; a holding portion arrangement portion (140, 240) having a plurality of holding portion accommodation portions (141, 20) having shapes different from each other, the plurality of holding portion accommodation portions (141, 20) corresponding to the shapes of the plurality of holding portions; and a sample processing unit (105, 280) that performs a process on a sample contained in a container held by the holding unit disposed in the holding unit disposition section.

The sample measurement system of the present invention includes: a sample preparation device (100, 100a, 100b) for preparing a sample using a reagent; and a measurement device (200) for performing measurement on the sample modulated by the sample modulation device, the sample modulation device modulating the sample in the container, the measurement device including: a plurality of holding parts (51-56) which hold the containers and have different shapes; a holding portion arrangement portion (240) having a plurality of holding portion accommodation portions having different shapes, the plurality of holding portion accommodation portions corresponding to the shapes of the plurality of holding portions; and a sample processing unit (280) that performs processing on a sample contained in a container held by the holding unit disposed in the holding unit disposition unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sample processing device, a holding unit, and a sample measurement system that can process a sample according to a method desired by an operator without complicating the structure.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sample measurement system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining a flow of sample modulation and measurement performed by the sample measurement system according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view for explaining a sample preparation device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining a rack supplied to a sample modulation device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 5 (a), (b), and (c) are schematic views for explaining the arrangement portion provided in the sample modulation device and the holding portion placed on the arrangement portion, respectively.

Fig. 6 (a), (b), and (c) are perspective views of the holding portion of the embodiment, respectively.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control unit of the sample modulation device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a measuring apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an optical measurement unit of the measurement device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control unit of the measurement device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement portion and the holding portion placed on the arrangement portion provided in the measurement device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the arrangement portion and the holding portion are attached to the support portion provided in the measurement device of the embodiment.

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a support portion and perspective views of a placement portion and a holding portion provided in the measurement device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining a state in which the arrangement portion and the holding portion of the embodiment are attached to the support portion of the measurement device and are transferred.

Fig. 15 (a), (b), and (c) are schematic views for explaining the case where the holding section of the detection embodiment is disposed in the disposition section of the measurement apparatus.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by the control unit of the sample modulation device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining positional information of a sample in a holding unit according to the embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating sequence information stored in the storage unit of the sample modulation device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the control unit of the measurement device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a diagram illustrating sequence information stored in the storage unit of the measurement device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 21 (a) is a plan view for explaining the shape of the holding portion and the shape of the arrangement portion in modification 1. Fig. 21 (b) is a plan view for explaining the shape of the holding portion and the shape of the arrangement portion in modification 2.

Description of the symbols

1: a sample measurement system; 140. 240: a disposing part; 20a to 20 f: an adapter (adapter); 47: a displacement member; 50: a housing part; 51-56: a holding section; 61. 62: a fastening part; 80: a detection unit; 82: a transfer section; 100: a sample preparation device (sample processing device); 105: a sample preparation unit (processing unit); 107: a control unit; 113: a communication unit; 150. 160: a dispensing mechanism; 200: a measurement device (sample processing device); 210: an optical measurement unit (measurement unit); 270: a control unit; 275: a communication unit; 280: a measurement section (processing section); 300: and a management device.

Detailed Description

< sample measurement System >

Hereinafter, an example of detecting a test substance (gene) contained in a blood sample by using the FISH (Fluorescence in situ hybridization) method will be described with respect to the sample measurement system of the embodiment.

The sample measurement system 1 shown in fig. 1 is installed in a facility such as a hospital or an examination facility, specifies a test substance (gene) as a measurement item based on sequence information issued for a blood test substance, and performs pretreatment and measurement analysis necessary for detecting the test substance (gene). The sample measurement system 1 includes sample modulation devices 100, 100a, and 100b, a measurement device 200, and a management device 300. The sample preparation devices 100, 100a, and 100b are sample processing devices for performing pretreatment such as addition of a fluorescent labeling reagent and heating on a blood sample containing a test substance, and each sample preparation device performs preparation of a sample for each measurement item based on sequence information issued for the blood sample. The measurement device 200 optically measures and analyzes the samples modulated by the sample modulation devices 100, 100a, and 100 b. The management device 300 is a computer and manages sequence information of the blood test substance. The management device 300, the measurement device 200, and the sample modulation devices 100, 100a, and 100b are connected to each other so that the sequence information can be communicated. In the present embodiment, the management device 300 and the measurement device 200 are connected via an in-facility LAN, and the measurement device 200 and the sample preparation devices 100, 100a, and 100b are connected in an equivalent manner, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The sequence information is identification information for identifying a blood test substance, and is a group including information on measurement items for the blood test substance.

The measurement device 200 continuously performs measurement and analysis of a large number of samples prepared by the 3 sample preparation devices 100, 100a, and 100 b. In general, the processing in the sample preparation device requires a relatively long time of 10 to 24 hours, whereas the processing in the measurement device takes a relatively short time of about several hours. Therefore, by operating a plurality of sample modulators to process a large number of samples in parallel, the operating efficiency of the measuring device can be improved, and the measurement and analysis of the samples can be performed efficiently.

< sample preparation and measurement flow Using sample measurement System >

In step S1 shown in fig. 2, the operator places the holding unit holding the empty container and the blood sample to be measured in the holding unit placement units of the sample modulation devices 100, 100a, and 100b, and instructs the sample modulation devices 100, 100a, and 100b to start sample modulation, respectively. The sample preparation devices 100, 100a, and 100b that have received the start instruction request the management device 300 via the measurement device 200 in step S2 for the measurement items of the arranged blood samples, respectively, and receive them. In step S3, the management device 300 transmits the measurement items to the sample modulators 100, 100a, and 100b via the measurement device 200 in response to the request. In step S4, each of the sample preparation devices 100, 100a, and 100b performs preparation of the blood sample in the container held by the holding unit disposed by the operator, based on the received measurement item. In step S5, each of the sample modulators 100, 100a, and 100b transmits the sequence information including the measurement items received in step S2 to the measurement device 200. In step S6, the measurement device 200 receives sequence information from each of the sample modulation devices 100, 100a, and 100 b. In step S7, the operator takes out the containers containing the prepared blood sample from each of the sample preparation devices 100, 100a, and 100b, places the containers on the holding portion arrangement portion of the measurement device 200, and instructs the measurement device 200 to start the measurement. In step S8, the measurement device 200 performs measurement and analysis of the modulated blood sample arranged by the operator based on the received sequence information.

< sample preparation apparatus >

The sample modulation devices 100, 100a, and 100b have the same configuration, and therefore the sample modulation device 100 will be described as an example.

As shown in fig. 3, the sample modulation device 100 includes a rack transport unit 101 and a sample modulation unit 105. The rack transport unit 101 is a device that transports the rack 6 holding the sample containers 5 containing the blood test substances along the X-axis direction.

As shown in fig. 4, a barcode label 2 is attached to the sample container 5 held in the rack 6. A barcode 2a is printed on the barcode label 2, and the barcode 2a includes, as information, a detection object ID given to each sample container 5.

Returning to fig. 3, the rack transport unit 101 includes a barcode reader 103, and the barcode reader 103 reads the detection object ID from the barcode 2a of the barcode label 2 attached to the sample container passing in front of the barcode reader 103.

The sample modulating section 105 includes a collecting mechanism 110, a 1 st reagent placing section 120, a 2 nd reagent placing section 121, a tip placing section 122, a discarding section 124, a centrifugal reaction section 130, a 1 st dispensing mechanism 150, a 2 nd dispensing mechanism 160, a 1 st heating section 170, a 2 nd heating section 180, a transport mechanism 190, a placement section 140, and a control unit 117.

The collection mechanism 110 takes out the sample container 5 positioned at the collection position 101c on the rack transport unit 101 from the rack 6 and places the sample container in the centrifugal reaction unit 130. The conveying mechanism 190 conveys the holding portions 51 and 52 by gripping them, and conveys the holding portions 51 and 52 to the arrangement portion 140, the centrifugal reaction portion 130, the 1 st heating unit 170, and the 2 nd heating unit 180.

The 1 st dispensing mechanism 150 suctions a reagent from the reagent containers 111a to 111e set in the 1 st reagent setting unit 111 and discharges the reagent to a container in the centrifugal reaction unit 130. The 2 nd dispensing mechanism 160 suctions a reagent from a reagent container placed on the 2 nd reagent placing unit 121 and discharges the reagent to a container in the centrifugal reaction unit 130. The 2 nd dispensing mechanism 160 is configured to be able to attach and detach a discarded disposable tip each time a reagent is sucked and discharged, attach the tip 123 disposed on the tip placement unit 122, and discard the tip 123 in the discarding unit 124 after the reagent is sucked and discharged.

The 1 st reagent placing section 111 can place 5 reagent containers 111a to 111 e. The reagent containers 111a and 111b contain 0.5% bsaainpbs solution. The reagent containers 111c, 111d, and 111e contain 0.4 × SSC, 2 × SSC, and DRAQ5, respectively.

The 2 nd reagent placing unit 121 can place a reagent container containing a reagent for FISH. The tip placing section 122 can place a plurality of disposable tips 123. The discard section 124 recovers the tip 123 which has been used and discarded.

The centrifugal reaction portion 130 is configured to be rotatable in a plan view, and is used for centrifuging a blood sample. Openings 130a and 130b and gates 134 and 135 for opening and closing the openings 130a and 130b are provided on the upper surface of the centrifugal reaction part 130. The shutters 134 and 135 are controlled to be opened when approaching the centrifugal reaction part 130 from the outside via the openings 130a and 130b, and are controlled to be closed otherwise.

The 1 st heating unit 170 and the 2 nd heating unit 180 are configured to be capable of holding the holding units 51 and 52 conveyed by the conveying mechanism 190, and to heat the reagent and the sample accommodated in the holding units 51 and 52 to a predetermined temperature higher than room temperature.

The arrangement portion 140 is located at a position accessible to an operator, and can accommodate the two holding portions 51 and 52.

As shown in fig. 7, the control unit 117 includes a control unit 107, a storage unit 109, a communication unit 113, and an input/output unit 112. The communication unit 113 includes a 1 st interface 114. The control unit 107 includes a CPU, executes a program stored in the storage unit 109, and controls each unit of the sample modulation device 100. The storage unit 109 is constituted by a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The input/output unit 112 is configured by a touch panel display, and receives various operations such as a start instruction of the sample modulation device 100 by an operator, and displays a screen for displaying the state of the sample modulation device 100 and a screen for receiving an operation input by the operator. The communication unit 113 receives information from the measurement device 200 via the 1 st interface 114 for connection to the measurement device 200, and transmits the information to the measurement device 200.

As shown in fig. 5 (a), the arrangement portion 140 includes concave adapters 120a and 120b, and the concave adapters 120a and 120b have shapes corresponding to specific holding portions and accommodate the holding portions. The adapter 120a has a shape corresponding to the holding portion 51, and the adapter 120b has a shape corresponding to the holding portion 52.

The holding portions 51 and 52 include an engaging portion 61. The adapters 120a, 120b include an engagement portion 62. The holding portion 51 and the adapter 120a are formed at positions where the engaging portions 61 and 62 are engaged with each other. The holding portion 52 and the adapter 120b are also formed at positions where the engaging portions 61 and 62 are engaged with each other. In the holding portion 51 and the holding portion 52, the shape of the engaging portion 61 is the same, but the positions in the width direction at the side surfaces of the holding portions are different from each other. Similarly, in the adapter 120a and the adapter 120b, the shape of the engaging portion 62 is the same, but the positions in the width direction of the adapter inner side surfaces are different from each other.

As shown in fig. 6 (c), the holding portions 51 and 52 are formed such that the upper surfaces of the holding portions 51 and 52 are higher than the upper surface around the holding portion of the arrangement portion 140 in the state where the holding portions 51 and 52 are arranged on the arrangement portion 140. This enables the holding portions 51 and 52 to be gripped by the conveying mechanism 190, and the operator can easily attach and detach the holding portions 51 and 52 to and from the placement portion 140.

Fig. 5 (b) and (c) show the placement unit 140a of the sample modulation device 100a and the placement unit 140b of the sample modulation device 100b, respectively. As shown in fig. 5 (b), the arrangement portion 140a includes concave adapters 120c and 120d, and the concave adapters 120c and 120d have shapes corresponding to the specific holding portions and accommodate the holding portions. The adapter 120c has a shape corresponding to the holding portion 53, and the adapter 120d has a shape corresponding to the holding portion 54. As shown in fig. 5 (c), the arrangement portion 140b includes concave adapters 120e and 120f, and the concave adapters 120e and 120f have shapes corresponding to the specific holding portions and accommodate the holding portions. The adapter 120e has a shape corresponding to the holding portion 55, and the adapter 120f has a shape corresponding to the holding portion 56. In the holding portions 51 to 56, the engaging portions 61 have the same shape, but the positions in the width direction of the side surfaces of the holding portions are different from each other. In the adapters 120a to 120f, the engaging portions 62 have the same shape, but the positions in the width direction of the adapter inner side surfaces are different from each other.

The shapes of the holding portions 51 to 56 will be described with reference to the holding portion 51 as an example. As shown in fig. 6 (a) and (b), the holding portion 51 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and 16 holding portions 50 for holding containers for holding samples are arranged in 4 rows and 4 columns on the upper surface 51a of the holding portion 51. In addition, the engaging portion 61 is provided as a groove-like depression extending from the bottom surface 51b to the upper surface 51a on 1 side surface of the holding portion 51. A convex portion 51c having a square shape in a plan view is provided on the bottom surface 51b of the holding portion 51. The holding portions 52 to 56 have the same shape as the holding portion 51 except that the positions in the width direction of the side surfaces of the holding portion of the engaging portion 61 are different.

By configuring the holding portions 51 to 56 and the adapters 120a to 120f as described above, the holding portions 51 to 56 can be arranged in the adapters 120a to 120f only in a predetermined direction.

< measuring apparatus >

As shown in fig. 8, the measurement device 200 includes a measurement unit 280, a control unit 279 that controls the operation of the measurement unit 280, a placement unit 240, a support unit 290 that detachably supports the placement unit 240, and a detection unit 80. In addition, each part is housed in the case 201.

The arranging section 240 is provided with holding sections 51 to 56, and the holding sections 51 to 56 hold containers that accommodate the blood samples prepared by the sample preparation devices 100, 100a, and 100 b.

Measurement unit 280 includes: an optical measurement unit 210 for performing optical measurement on a sample; and a suction unit 271 for sucking the blood sample placed in the placement unit 240 and supplying the blood sample to the optical measurement unit 210.

As shown in fig. 9, the optical measurement unit 210 includes a flow cell 220, light sources 231 to 234, condenser lenses 241 to 244, dichroic mirrors 251 and 252, a condenser lens 261, an optical unit 262, a condenser lens 263, and an imaging unit 264. The sample flows through the flow channel 221 of the flow cell 220.

The light sources 231 to 234 irradiate light to the sample flowing through the flow cell 220. The light sources 231 to 234 are semiconductor laser light sources. The light beams emitted from the light sources 231 to 234 are laser beams having wavelengths λ 201 to λ 204, respectively. The condenser lenses 241 to 244 condense the light emitted from the light sources 231 to 234, respectively. The dichroic mirror 251 transmits light having a wavelength λ 201 and reflects light having a wavelength λ 202. The dichroic mirror 252 transmits light having wavelengths λ 201 and λ 202, and reflects light having a wavelength λ 203. In this way, light having wavelengths λ 201 to λ 203 is irradiated to the sample flowing through the channel 221 of the flow cell 220 via the dichroic mirror 252. Further, the light having the wavelength λ 204 is irradiated to the sample flowing through the channel 221 of the flow cell 220 via the condenser lens 244.

When light having a wavelength λ 201 is irradiated to the sample flowing through the flow cell 220, fluorescence having a wavelength λ 211 is generated from the fluorescent dye that stains the cell. When light having a wavelength λ 202 is irradiated to the sample flowing through the flow cell 220, fluorescence having a wavelength λ 212 is generated from the fluorescent dye that stains the cell. When light having a wavelength λ 203 is irradiated to the sample flowing through the flow cell 220, fluorescence having a wavelength λ 213 is generated from the fluorescent dye that stains the cell. When light having a wavelength λ 204 is irradiated to the sample flowing through the flow cell 220, the light is transmitted through the cell. Light of wavelength λ 204 transmitted through the cell is used for the generation of bright field images.

The condenser lens 261 condenses the fluorescence having wavelengths λ 211 to λ 213 generated from the sample flowing through the channel 221 of the flow cell 220 and the light having wavelength λ 204 transmitted through the sample flowing through the channel 221 of the flow cell 220. The optical unit 262 has a structure in which 4 pieces of dichroic mirrors are combined, or a prism, for example. The optical unit 262 reflects the fluorescence having the wavelengths λ 211 to λ 213 and the light having the wavelength λ 204 at slightly different angles from each other, and separates them on the light receiving surface of the imaging unit 264. The condenser lens 263 condenses the fluorescence having the wavelengths λ 211 to λ 213 and the light having the wavelength λ 204.

The imaging unit 264 is constituted by a TDI (Time Delay Integration) camera, for example. The imaging unit 264 images the fluorescence of wavelengths λ 211 to λ 213 and the light of wavelength λ 204, and outputs a fluorescence image corresponding to the fluorescence of wavelengths λ 211 to λ 213 and a bright field image corresponding to the light of wavelength λ 204 as imaging signals.

As shown in fig. 10, the control unit 279 includes a control unit 270, an operation unit 272, a display unit 273, a storage unit 274, and a communication unit 275. The control unit 270 includes a CPU, executes a program stored in the storage unit 274, and controls each unit of the measurement device 200. The storage unit 274 is composed of a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The operation unit 272 is constituted by a mouse and a keyboard, and receives various operations such as a start instruction of the measurement apparatus 200 by an operator. The display portion 273 displays a screen for displaying the state of the measurement apparatus 200 and a screen for accepting an operation input by the operator. The communication unit 275 includes a 1 st interface 276 connected to the sample modulators 100, 100a, and 100b and a 2 nd interface 277 connected to the management device 300, and transmits and receives information.

As shown in fig. 11 to 13, the arrangement portion 240 includes adapters 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, and 20f that accommodate the holding portions 51 to 56, respectively. The 6 adapters 20a to 20f have shapes corresponding to the 6 holding portions 51 to 56, respectively, and include engaging portions 62. In the 6 adapters 20a to 20f, the engaging portions 62 have the same shape, but the positions in the width direction of the inner surfaces of the adapters are different from each other. The 6 holding portions 51 to 56 are disposed in a state of being adjacent to each other in a recess portion having the inner bottom surface 20 of the arrangement portion 240 as a bottom surface. At this time, the respective engaging portions 61 and 62 are engaged with each other, and the respective holding portions 51 to 56 are positioned in the recess of the disposition portion 240. As shown in FIG. 12, the holding portions 51 to 56 protrude upward from the recess of the placement portion 240. Thus, the operator can easily attach and detach the holding portions 51 to 56 to and from the recessed portion of the placement portion 240.

As shown in FIG. 13, 6 recessed portions 21 to 26 are formed on the inner bottom surface 20 of the arrangement portion 240. The convex parts (convex parts 51c in FIG. 6) provided on the bottom surfaces of the 6 holding parts 51 to 56 are fitted into the 6 concave parts 21 to 26. Further, holes 21a to 26a are formed in the 6 recesses 21 to 26 so as to penetrate therethrough, respectively.

As shown in fig. 12 and 13, the support 290 has a recess 291 that fits into the arrangement portion 240, and is configured to be able to attach and detach the arrangement portion 240. The operator can dispose 6 holding parts 51 to 56 on the disposition part 240 in a state where the disposition part 240 is detached from the support part 290. As shown in fig. 13, the arrangement portion 240 is provided with flange portions 10a and 10b, and is used as a grip portion when an operator carries the arrangement portion 240. The arrangement portion 240 has a recess 17 on one outer surface. In addition, the concave portion 291 of the support portion 290 is provided with a convex portion 77 on one inner surface. When the placement portion 240 is placed on the support portion 290, the convex portion 77 fits into the concave portion 17, so that the operator can be prevented from attaching the placement portion 240 to the support portion 290 in an incorrect orientation.

As shown in fig. 13, the support portion 290 includes a support frame 70, a plate member 40, and a displacement member 47. The support frame 70 has an opening 71 formed in a central portion thereof, and the plate member 40 is fitted in the opening 71. The pair of facing side surfaces 72 and 73 of the support frame 70 are provided with 6 holes 74 and 75, respectively. The plate member 40 has 6 holes 41 to 46 penetrating in the vertical direction. The 6 holes 41 to 46 are provided at positions facing the 6 holes 21a to 26a provided in the arrangement portion 240, respectively. These 6 holes 21a to 26a and 6 holes 41 to 46 are used to detect whether or not the 6 holding portions 51 to 56 are disposed in the disposition portion 240.

A displacement member 47 is provided between the arrangement portion 240 and the support frame 70. The displacement member 47 includes a shaft portion 48 and an outer cylinder 49. The outer cylinder 49 is fixed to the plate member 40. The central portion in the vertical direction of each shaft portion 48 is covered with an outer cylinder 49, the lower end portion is inserted into each of the 6 holes 41 to 46 of the plate member 40, and the upper end portion is inserted into each of the 6 holes 21a to 26a of the arrangement portion 240. As shown in fig. 15 (b), the elastic body 49a is inserted into the outer cylinder 49. For example, in a state where the holding portion 51 is not placed on the placement portion 240, the shaft portion 48 protrudes toward the upper portion of the outer cylinder 49 as shown in fig. 15 (b), and when the holding portion 51 is placed on the placement portion 240, the shaft portion moves downward with respect to the outer cylinder 49 through the hole 41 provided in the plate member 40 as shown in fig. 15 (c) due to the weight of the holding portion 51.

As shown in fig. 14, the measuring apparatus 200 includes a transfer mechanism 82 including a motor and a rail mechanism, and transfers the support 290 and the arrangement portion 240 between a drawing position D1 located outside the casing 201 and a storage position D3 located inside the casing 201. The lead-out position D1 is a position at which the operator places the arrangement portion 240 on the support portion 290. The storage position D3 is a position at which the suction unit 271 sucks the modulated sample from the container held by the placement unit 240.

The detection unit 80 detects whether or not 6 holding units 51 to 56 are arranged in the arrangement unit 240 at a detection position D2 during the period in which the arrangement unit 240 is transferred from the drawing position D1 to the accommodating position D3. The detection unit 80 includes a light emitter 80a and a light receiver 80 b. The light emitter 80a is an LED, and the light receiver 80b is a light receiving sensor. The light emitter 80a is configured to irradiate light toward the light receiver 80 b.

In a state where the holding portion is not placed on the placement portion 240 as shown in fig. 15 (b), the shaft portion 48 of the displacement member 47 receives light from the light emitter 80a without blocking the light from the light receiver 80 b. On the other hand, in a state where the holding portion is placed on the placement portion 240 as shown in fig. 15 (c), the shaft portion 48 of the displacement member 47 blocks the light of the light emitter 80a, and the light receiver 80b does not receive the light. Therefore, the detection unit 80 can detect the presence or absence of the holding unit based on the presence or absence of light reception by the light receiver 80 b. As shown in fig. 15 (a), the holes 41 to 46 of the displacement member 47 and the plate member 40 are provided at positions different from each other in the direction of the transfer arrangement portion 240. Thus, the detection unit 80 can detect the presence or absence of each of the holding units 51 to 56.

< treatment of sample preparation apparatus >

Next, as an example of the processing of the sample modulation device, the processing of the sample modulation device 100 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in fig. 3 and 16.

The control unit 107 of the sample preparation apparatus 100 requests the management apparatus 300 via the measurement apparatus 200 to receive measurement items of the blood sample placed in the placement unit 140 in the measurement item information acquisition step S120. This process corresponds to the process of step S2 shown in fig. 2.

In this process, the control unit 107 first associates the positional information of the blood test object in the arrangement unit 140 with the test object ID. For convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 17, A, B, C, D is set for the rows of the holding portion 51, 1, 2, 3, and 4 are set for the columns, and A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2 … D-3, and D-4 are set for the positional information of the total of 16 housing portions 50 according to the positions in the holding portion 51. Similarly, the holding portion 52 also has positional information of a total of 16 housing portions 50, which is A-5, A-6, A-7, A-8, B-5, B-6 … D-7, and D-8, depending on the position in the holding portion 51. When the barcode reader 103 of the rack transport unit 101 reads the detection object ID from the barcode label 2 attached to the sample container 5 held in the rack 6, the control unit 107 stores the read detection object ID in the storage unit 109 in order of the positional information a-1 as shown in fig. 18. Then, the control unit 107 transmits the detection object ID to the measurement device 200 via the communication unit 113.

Then, the control unit 107 of the sample modulation device 100 receives the measurement items from the measurement device 200, associates the measurement items with the position information and the detection object ID, and stores the information groups as sequence information in the storage unit 109, as shown in fig. 18.

Next, the control unit 107 of the sample modulation device 100 executes a sample modulation process corresponding to the process of step S4 shown in fig. 2 in steps S121 to S125.

In step S121, the control unit 107 of the sample modulation device 100 causes the sample modulation unit 105 to perform a process before the thermal denaturation of the sample. Specifically, the control unit 107 causes the sample container 5 transferred by the rack transfer unit 101 to be taken into the centrifugal reaction unit 130 through the opening 130a by the take-up mechanism 110, and performs the processes of centrifugal separation, supernatant removal, and reagent dispensing by the centrifugal reaction unit 130 and the 1 st dispensing mechanism 150. In this process, the control unit 107 determines conditions such as the number of times of centrifugation and the number of revolutions, and the type of reagent to be dispensed, in accordance with the measurement items included in the sequence information stored in the storage unit 109.

In step S122, the control unit 107 causes the holding unit 51 placed in the placement unit 140 by the operator in advance to be transferred to the 1 st heating unit 170 by the transfer mechanism 190, and causes the 1 st dispensing mechanism 150 to draw the blood sample subjected to the thermal denaturation pretreatment and taken into the centrifugation reaction unit 130 through the opening 130b and discharge the blood sample to the container 7 transferred to the holding unit 51 of the 1 st heating unit 170. At this time, the control unit 107 determines the container 7 on the holding unit 51 from which the blood test substance is discharged, in accordance with the group of the test substance ID and the positional information stored in the storage unit 109.

In step S123, the control unit 107 causes the 1 st heating unit 170, the 2 nd heating unit 180, the centrifugal reaction unit 130, the 1 st dispensing mechanism 150, and the transport mechanism 190 to perform heating, centrifugal separation, supernatant removal, and reagent dispensing processes. Thereby, hybridization between the nucleic acid in the blood test substance and the reagent occurs. In this process, the control unit 107 determines conditions such as the number of times of centrifugation and the number of revolutions, heating time, and the type of reagent to be dispensed, in accordance with the measurement items included in the sequence information stored in the storage unit 109.

In step S124, the control unit 107 causes the 1 st heating unit 170, the 2 nd heating unit 180, the centrifugal reaction unit 130, the 1 st dispensing mechanism 150, and the transport mechanism 190 to perform heating, centrifugal separation, supernatant removal, and reagent dispensing processes. This removes substances that inhibit measurement from the blood sample. In this process, the control unit 107 determines conditions such as the number of times of centrifugation and the number of revolutions, heating time, and the type of reagent to be dispensed, in accordance with the measurement items included in the sequence information stored in the storage unit 109.

In step S125, the control unit 107 causes the centrifugal reaction unit 130 and the 1 st dispensing mechanism 150 to execute reagent dispensing processing. Thereby, the cell nuclei in the blood test piece are stained. In this process, the control unit 107 determines a reagent to be used for staining according to the measurement items included in the sequence information stored in the storage unit 109.

In step S126, the control unit 107 transmits the sequence information stored in the storage unit 109 in step S120 to the measurement device 200 regarding the blood sample after the sample modulation process is completed.

< treatment with measuring apparatus >

Next, the processing in the control unit 270 of the measurement device 200 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in fig. 8, 10, and 19. First, in step S200, the control unit 270 receives the sequence information transmitted from the control unit 107 of the sample modulation device 100 in step S126 shown in fig. 16, and stores the sequence information in the storage unit 274. This process corresponds to the process of step S6 shown in fig. 2. The control unit 270 also receives sequence information from the sample modulation devices 100a and 100b, and stores the sequence information in the storage unit 274 as shown in fig. 20.

In step S201, the controller 270 receives a measurement start instruction from the operator via the operation unit 272. In step S202, the control unit 270 determines whether or not the holding unit 51 is detected by the detection unit 80.

If the holding unit 51 is detected (yes in step S202), the process proceeds to step S205, and if the holding unit 51 is not detected (no in step S202), the process proceeds to step S203. In step S203, the control unit 207 causes the display portion 273 to display a display indicating that the holding portion 51 is not properly placed. Note that the report indicating that the holding portion 51 is not properly placed is not limited to being displayed on the display portion 273, and an alarm may be sounded. The control unit 207 determines whether or not to stop the measurement in step S204. That is, the control unit 207 causes the display unit 273 to display a screen for selecting whether to continue or stop the measurement in step S204, and returns the process to step S202 when the operator selects that the measurement is to be continued (no in step S204), and ends the process when the operator selects to stop the measurement (yes in step S204).

When the holding unit 51 is detected in step S202 (yes in step S202), the control unit 207 reads the sequence information stored in the storage unit 274 in step S205, and determines the measurement item corresponding to the position information on the holding unit detected by the detection unit 80 as the measurement item of the sample to be measured.

In step S206, the control unit 270 causes the measurement unit 280 to measure the sample, analyzes the obtained optical information, and acquires the analysis result. In this analysis process, the control unit 207 uses an analysis algorithm corresponding to the measurement items included in the sequence information.

In step S207, the control unit 270 allocates the acquired analysis result to the measurement analysis result column shown in fig. 20, stores the result in the storage unit 274, and ends the process.

As described above, since the adapters 120a to 120f of the sample modulation devices 100, 100a, and 100b have shapes corresponding to specific holding sections among the holding sections 51 to 56, it is possible to prevent a placement error without complicating the structure and to suppress modulation of samples in a method different from a method desired by an operator.

Further, since the adapters 20a to 20f of the measurement device 200 have a shape corresponding to a specific holding section among the holding sections 51 to 56, the sample can be processed in accordance with a method desired by the operator without complicating the structure and preventing a placement error.

[ modification example 1]

As shown in fig. 21 (a), the 6 holding portions 51 to 56 may be formed in an elliptical shape, a polygonal shape, a rhombic shape, or the like so that the 6 holding portions 51 to 56 may be different in shape as a whole, without providing the engaging portions 61. In this case, the adapters 20a to 20f of the arrangement portion 240 also have a shape corresponding to a specific holding portion among the holding portions 51 to 56. Since the operator can visually and easily recognize the difference in the shape of the 6 holding portions 51 to 56, the operator can reliably prevent the placement error in the placement portion 240.

[ modification 2]

As shown in fig. 21 (b), there may be a plurality of engaging portions 61 and 62 provided in 1 holding portion and adapter. In this case, the adapters 20a to 20f of the arrangement portion 240 also have a shape corresponding to a specific holding portion among the holding portions 51 to 56.

In the embodiments described above, an example of measurement performed on blood has been shown, but measurement can be performed on a sample other than blood, such as urine. The sample modulating device, the measuring device, and the managing device may be connected to each other via a dedicated line, a general-purpose network, a public network, or the like as appropriate. The measurement device can be configured to have both a management device and a sample preparation device.

In the above embodiment, the measurement device obtains the measurement items of the sample from the management device, but the operator may directly input the measurement items of the sample via the input unit of the measurement device. The measurement device may acquire measurement items by reading information stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

In the above embodiment, the 6 holding portions 51 to 56 are all different in shape, but some of the holding portions may be formed to have the same shape. Similarly, in the above embodiment, the 6 adapters 20a to 20f of the arrangement portion 240 of the measurement device 200 have all different shapes, but some of the adapters may be formed to have the same shape. For example, two holders 51 may be used instead of the holder 51 for the holder 52, and two adapters 20a may be provided instead of the adapter 20a for the adapter 20 b. In this case, the two holding portions 51 can be identified by attaching a symbol or color to the holding portions, attaching an IC chip storing identification information to the holding portions, and the like.

In the above embodiment, the adapters 120b to 120f have the same inner peripheries as the outer peripheries of the holding portions 51 to 56, but the shape of the adapter is not limited thereto as long as the shape corresponds to the shape of the holding portion. For example, the holding portion 51 may include two or more engaging portions 61. In this case, as described above, 1 engaging portion 61 is provided at a position to be engaged with the engaging portion 62 of the adapter 120a, and the other engaging portions 61 are provided at a position not to be engaged with any of the engaging portions 62 of the adapters 120b to 120 f.