Patent Application
20150269513
The present invention relates generally to automatic analyzers that measure biological samples such as blood and urine and, more particularly, to an automatic analyzer that includes a user interface for efficiently planning and controlling a task schedule for a user in the automatic analyzer.
Automatic analyzers that perform analysis using a biological sample, such as blood and urine, and a reagent require calibration as an operation to calibrate a calibration curve and accuracy control for allowing the automatic analyzer to maintain its best possible condition at the start of analysis or at predetermined intervals established according to each reagent or as necessary during an analysis process.
Examples of factors mandating the calibration or accuracy control include, but are not limited to, the lapse of a predetermined period of time for periodically performing the calibration or accuracy control, after a change of reagent bottles, and re-measurement following a measurement failure.
Calibration is performed using a standard solution having a concentration established according to each item. The calibration or the accuracy control has its own validity period established according to each analysis item. Expiration of the validity period thus calls for new calibration or new accuracy control. The new calibration or the new accuracy control also needs to be performed when, in each analysis item, the reagent in one reagent bottle is used up and a reagent in a new reagent bottle is to be used.
A known automatic analyzer automatically detects, for example, the lapse of the predetermined period of time established according to each reagent, the expiration of the validity period, and the changeover from one reagent bottle to another and notifies the user that the calibration or the accuracy control needs to be performed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-2006-53164-A
The function of the technique disclosed in patent document 1 is indeed effective in indicating the necessity for calibration or accuracy control for each analysis item immediately at a particular point in time. It is, however, an impending moment when the user knows the necessity for the performance with respect to any one of the factors. No means have so far been available for predicting the necessity for the calibration or accuracy control and preparing an analysis schedule with respect to a predetermined period of time in the future. It has thus been difficult for the user to prepare a standard calibration sample, an accuracy control sample, and reagents for analyzing these samples, and perform analysis according to a planned schedule.
Recent years have witnessed devices offering higher precision and higher sensitivity to achieve improved performance of the automatic analyzer, which is accompanied by an increase in the number of maintenance functions for maintaining and controlling the automatic analyzer. An example of the maintenance functions includes necessity for replacing a light source of a photometer incorporated in an automatic analyzer at predetermined intervals. Such a maintenance function requires periodic performance and known automatic analyzers did have a function of controlling a time limit. As with the calibration and accuracy control mentioned above, however, it was the last moment when the user knew the necessity for the performance and it has been difficult to perform maintenance on a scheduled basis.
Furthermore, many of laboratories using automatic analyzers are operated for 24 hours and a plurality of users works in shifts to operate the laboratories. It is thus important for each individual user to perform each and every task event occurring during a period of time allocated to him or her and to transfer his or her duties to the subsequent user.
The known automatic analyzer, however, had no means of inputting a user's work schedule. The known automatic analyzer simply notifies the user of an event at irregular intervals not operatively associated with the user's work schedule. The automatic analyzer's inability to efficiently schedule tasks and let the user perform the tasks on a scheduled basis can cause omission of a task, posing a serious problem impeding assurance of performance.
A large-scale testing facility that includes a large number of analyzers to be operated by users and a plurality of users working simultaneously involves occurrence of omission of a task, leading to an even greater possibility of inefficient work.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automatic analyzer that enables specific tasks to be performed by a user within a period of time allocated to him or her to be predicted in advance, the tasks to be efficiently scheduled according to a work schedule of the user, and each and every task to be performed without any omission.
To achieve the foregoing object, the present invention provides an automatic analyzer including: an input unit that inputs a work schedule for a user who uses the automatic analyzer; a planning section that schedules in advance task events required for using the automatic analyzer; a schedule preparing section that prepares, from the work schedule input from the input unit and the task events scheduled by the planning section, a time-series task schedule as a list of tasks to be performed by the user within a period of time allocated to him or her; and a display unit that displays the task schedule prepared by the schedule preparing section.
The foregoing arrangements enable specific tasks to be performed by a user within the period of time allocated to him or her to be predicted in advance, the tasks to be efficiently scheduled according to the work schedule for the user, and each and every task to be performed without any omission.
The present invention enables specific tasks to be performed by a user within a period of time allocated to him or her to be predicted in advance, the tasks to be efficiently scheduled according to a work schedule of the user, and each and every task to be performed without any omission.
A configuration and operations of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to
A general configuration of the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment will first be described with reference to
The automatic analyzer according to the embodiment includes, for example, three analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3 connected in series with each other. The automatic analyzer, though including three analyzing units in this embodiment, may include any other numbers of analyzing units including one. The automatic analyzer further includes a transfer line TRL that transfers sample racks. The transfer line TRL is disposed adjacent to each of the analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3. Additionally, the automatic analyzer includes a sample loading unit SAI disposed on a first end portion side of each of the analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3 and a sample storing unit SAO disposed on a second end portion side.
A user USR mounts a sample SMP to be subjected to calibration measurement, accuracy control sample measurement, and patient sample measurement on a sample rack SML. A plurality of samples can be mounted on the sample rack SML. The sample rack SML on which samples are mounted is disposed at the sample loading unit SAI. The sample racks SML thus disposed are loaded in sequence onto the transfer line TRL and conveyed onto the analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3 that perform analysis on the samples. The analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3 each recognize the sample rack SML and the sample SMP and perform analysis required for the sample SMP. The analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3 each include a reagent disk RED that houses a plurality of reagents REG used for performing analysis. The reagents REG required for the analysis are loaded in the reagent disk RED by the user in advance of the analysis. The sample rack SML that has undergone the required analysis is conveyed onto the sample storing unit SAO.
The sample loading unit SAI, the analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3, and the sample storing unit SAO are each connected through a network cable to an operator unit PC 100 of the automatic analyzer via a hub HB. The operator unit PC 100 is connected to a host system USY over a network.
The user makes an analysis request (measurement request) for each sample from the host system USY or the operator unit PC 100 and mounts the sample to be analyzed on the sample rack SML and loads the sample rack SML onto the sample loading unit SAI. Information of the analysis request is transmitted to the analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3 over the network and analyses by the analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3 are transmitted to the operator unit PC 100 and the host system USY.
The operator unit PC 100 is also connected to a remote system RSY via a public network. The remote system RSY stores information, such as analysis parameters that represent analysis condition information using reagents to be used in the automatic analyzer. The remote system RSY delivers the analysis parameters upon request from the operator unit PC 100. The delivered analysis parameters are stored in the operator unit PC 100 and transmitted to the analyzing units AA1, AA2, and AA3 during analysis of samples.
A task schedule control function according to the embodiment can achieve the best possible result from standpoints of system configuration and operability when the operator unit PC 100 includes a screen interface. The operator unit PC 100 creates task schedule information for each person in charge using work schedule information input from the operator unit PC 100 or the host system USY or the remote system RSY that assumes an upper system of the automatic analyzer and task event information of the automatic analyzer controlled by the operator unit PC 100.
The user can check specific tasks to be performed by him or her on a task schedule screen displayed on the operator unit PC 100 to thereby formulate an efficient task plan in line with a work schedule.
Alternatively, the host system or the remote system as an upper system may include a task schedule control unit according to a use mode of the user, thereby achieving the function through an exchange of information via the network between the operator unit PC and the analyzing unit.
A configuration of the operator unit PC 100 incorporated in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to
The operator unit PC 100 mainly includes a control unit 110, an input unit 120, a display unit 130, and a storage unit 140. The input unit 120 includes a keyboard and a mouse. The input unit 120 allows a button displayed on the display unit 130 to be depressed (clicked with the mouse) and a numeral or a character to be input into an input field displayed on the display unit 130. The input unit 120 and the display unit 130 constitute a graphical user interface (GUI).
The control unit 110 includes a planning section 112, a schedule preparing section 113, a notifying section 114, a reserving section 116, and a determining section 118. Functions and operations of these sections will be described later.
The storage unit 140 stores the work schedule information and the task event information. The planning section 112 uses the foregoing information to prepare a task schedule.
An exemplary task schedule screen in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to
A task schedule screen 301 is displayed on the display unit 130 shown in
A log-in user 302 field displays the name of the user who has currently logged in. By default, the task schedule screen 301 displays the task schedule of the log-in user during a corresponding time slot at the center thereof, making the display optimum for the operating user.
Person-in-charge advance/retreat buttons 303 are used to display the task schedule for persons-in-charge who precede and follow the log-in user. Time advance/retard buttons 304 are used to scroll up and down the display of the task schedule by the hour. Using the person-in-charge advance/retreat buttons 303 and the time advance/retard buttons 304, the user can check not only the task schedule of him or her own, but also statuses of tasks of the preceding person in charge and tasks scheduled for the subsequent person in charge.
A schedule display area 305 displays schedules of a hospital and a laboratory. A reagent task display area 308 displays a reagent task event 309, such as a reagent addition necessitated as a result of a short reagent supply. A calibration task display area 310 displays a calibration task event 311, such as calibration measurement that accompanies a reagent addition or a timeout. An accuracy control task display area 312 displays an accuracy control task event 313, such as accuracy control measurement that accompanies a reagent addition or a timeout. A maintenance task display area 314 displays a maintenance task event 315, such as maintenance performance that accompanies a timeout or a part replacement. Preferably, to enhance visibility, a mark that represents each of these task events is changed according to the status of performance of the task.
Additionally, the task schedule screen 301 displays an allocated time frame 306 of the log-in user and a current time of day line 307.
The foregoing display allows the person in charge to readily check the tasks to be performed within the period of time allocated to him or her and to confirm a specific timing at which each of the tasks in the schedules of the hospital and the laboratory occurs, thereby enabling the person in charge to determine whether the tasks can be performed efficiently.
The type of the task events displayed on the screen is optimally concerned with the most critical reagent, calibration, accuracy control, and maintenance in terms of assurance of performance as the automatic analyzer, as exemplified on the exemplary screen; preferably, however, the type of the task events can be customized according to the purpose of the user. In the display example shown in
A task detail display area 316 displays details of the task event selected on the screen.
The task detail display area 316 displays task performance status, occurrence time of day, reserved time of day, performance time of day, performer, and task detail. The task detail display area 316 includes a task reserving button 317 used for reserving a task in advance at a convenient time of day when the occurrence time of day falls at an inconvenient time for reasons of scheduling as described above. The task detail display area 316 further includes a task performance screen shift button 318 that allows each task performance screen for performing a corresponding task to be directly accessed for quick performance of the task. Automatically displaying the task schedule screen 301 as described above upon a user's login to the operator unit PC 100 enables the user to check the specific task to be performed within the period of time allocated to him or her, thereby formulating an efficient task plan. In addition, automatically displaying the task schedule screen 301 upon the user's log-out from the operator unit PC 100 enables the user to check that none of the tasks are left undone during the period of time allocated to him or her.
The following describes with reference to
In the display example shown in
In contrast, the user performs each of a reagent task event 402, calibration task events 404 and 405, accuracy control task events 408 and 409, and a maintenance task event 411 prior to the morning test. This results in a display of “performed” statuses, such as a reagent task event 401, a calibration task event 403, an accuracy control task event 407, the maintenance task event 411, and a task detail display area 413. In addition, connected lines and broken lines are used to facilitate a ready understanding of correspondence to the task events 402, 404, 405, 408, and 409 originally displayed at the occurrence time of day. Specifically, a task indicated by a broken-line circle (e.g., the task event 402) is displayed as a solid-black circle, performed task (e.g., the task event 401) and the broken-line circle and the solid-black circle are connected to each other by a broken-line arrow.
In addition, to ensure that the calibration task event, the accuracy control task event, and the maintenance task event that can be predicted to occur during the afternoon test can be performed in advance of the afternoon test, tasks are reserved as with task events 406, 410, and 412 prior to the afternoon test. Specifically, a task indicated by a broken-line circle is displayed as a hatched circle (e.g., the task event 406) and the broken-line circle and the hatched circle are connected to each other by a broken-line arrow. Performance of a task to be performed during the period of time allocated to the subsequent person in charge, such as the task event 412, in particular, can be expected to achieve a benefit of, for example, reducing a workload on the subsequent person in charge particularly when, for example, the subsequent person in charge is a novice at the automatic analyzer.
Additionally, a comprehensive schedule control not only for the task events on the automatic analyzer but also in working can be achieved by a function that allows the user to register any desired schedule provided in the schedule display area 305 shown in
The following describes with reference to
A work schedule input process 503 creates work schedule information 504 through a reception from the host system USY connected to the network or an input from a work schedule input screen 502 on the operator unit PC 100.
An analyzer task event control process 505 creates and controls analyzer task event information 506 relating to the reagent, calibration, accuracy control, and maintenance tasks that can be predicted to occur from parameter and reagent information registered in the analyzer and measurement and maintenance records.
A task schedule preparing process 507 creates task schedule information 508 for each person in charge on the basis of the work schedule information 504 and the analyzer task event information 506. The created task schedule information 508 is displayed on a task schedule screen 509. Additionally, the task schedule information 508 is transmitted to the host system USY connected to the network.
The user checks the task on the task schedule screen and accesses each task performance screen 510 to perform each task. The performed task event is fed back to the analyzer task event control process 505 and the analyzer task event information 506 is then updated.
The following describes a correspondence between the elements shown in
The planning section 112 shown in
The schedule preparing section 113 shown in
The notifying section 114 shown in
The reserving section 116 shown in
The determining section 118 shown in
The input unit 120 shown in
The storage unit 140 shown in
The following describes an operation of each element with reference to a specific example.
The schedule preparing section 113 prepares, on the basis of the work schedule and task events, a time-series task schedule chart that represents a list of tasks to be performed by the user within the period of time allocated to him or her. The prepared task schedule chart is displayed, for example, on the task schedule screen 301 shown in
Meanwhile, the schedule preparing section 113 recognizes that the task in question is yet to be performed until the “reagent addition completion” button is depressed. It is noted that the determining section 118 shown in
For example, when the time slot shifts from that of the preceding person in charge to that of the current person in charge when the maintenance task to be performed by the preceding person in charge displayed in the maintenance task display area 314 of
Alternatively, when the reagent task event 402 relating to the reagent addition shown in
To reserve a task ahead of the afternoon test in order for the calibration task event 406 shown in
The following describes with reference to
A work schedule input screen 601 is used by a user in the capacity of an administrator or equivalent to register a daily test schedule and assignment of persons in charge. The work schedule input screen 601 is mounted on the operator unit PC of the automatic analyzer or the host system connected by the network. Large-scale hospitals and laboratories have a large number of analyzers and a large number of persons in charge, so that it is efficient and ideal to mount the work schedule input screen 601 in the host system thereby achieving integrated control.
A calendar 602 is used for selecting a date of the test schedule and personnel assignment. With respect to the selected date, specific times of day are specified to set up a schedule in a schedule input area 603. The input schedule is displayed in a schedule display area 605.
In addition, times of day is specified and the person in charge is entered in a person in charge input area 604. A personnel assignment display area 606 displays the entered persons in charge assigned.
The input information on the schedule and personnel assignment is saved by the depression of a register button 607. It is noted that a configuration of the work schedule input screen 601 mounted on the host system involves control of a plurality of automatic analyzers. As a result, information for identifying a specific automatic analyzer is added and the screen is laid out to allow a schedule for each individual automatic analyzer to be input.
The following describes with reference to
A task schedule control setting screen 701 provides a screen for setting, for example, screen display, task notification, and communication with the host system in the task schedule control function.
A log-in task schedule display setting field 702 is used to set whether or not to automatically display the task schedule screen of the log-in user when a user logs in to the system on the operator unit PC.
Similarly, a log-out task schedule display setting field 703 is used to set whether or not to automatically display the task schedule screen of the log-in user when the user logs out from the system.
The task schedule screen display function described above allows the user to check the schedule of a specific task he or she is required to perform within the period of time allocated to him or her upon his or her log-in to the system, thereby allowing the user to formulate an efficient task plan. In addition, the task schedule screen display function allows the user to check that none of the tasks are left undone when he or she logs out from the system.
A task notification setting field 704 is used to set whether or not to give a notification display that prompts the user to perform a task when an occurrence time of day of each task event arrives or a reserved time of day when the user so sets arrives. A task notification time setting field 705 is used to set a time at which an advance task notification is performed.
A collective task notification setting field 706 and a collective task notification time setting field 707 are used to set, when a first task event encounters a task time of day, whether or not to give a notification display for recommending collective performance of tasks that encounter respective task times of day within a predetermined period of time that begins with the task time of day of the first task event.
An advance task notification before allocated time end setting field 708 and an advance task notification before allocated time end time setting field 709 are used to set to notify residual tasks before a predetermined period of time of an allocated time end arrives. The foregoing task notification functions prompt the user to perform tasks, thus preventing omission of a task.
The times set in the task notification setting field 704, the task notification time setting field 705, the collective task notification setting field 706, the collective task notification time setting field 707, the advance task notification before allocated time end setting field 708, and the advance task notification before allocated time end time setting field 709 are controlled by the notifying section 114 shown in
A work schedule host system reception setting field 710 is used to set whether or not to receive the work schedule information required for creating the task schedule information from the host system connected to the network. A task schedule host system transmission setting field 711 is used to set whether or not to transmit the created task schedule information to the host system.
Providing the foregoing functions to communicate with the host system enables information to be shared between the host system and the automatic analyzer, thus allowing the host system to efficiently provide integrated control of a plurality of automatic analyzers and a plurality of users in large-scale hospitals and testing facilities.
The information input through the task schedule control setting screen 701 is saved by depression of a set button 712.
The following describes with reference to
In step 801, it is determined whether a setting is made to receive a work schedule from the host system. If the setting is made, the work schedule information is received from the host system connected to the network in step 802.
In step 803, work schedule information is read. If it is determined in step 801 that the setting is not made, the work schedule information registered in the work schedule input screen on the operator unit PC is to be read.
Then in step 804, analyzer task event information relating to the reagent, calibration, accuracy control, and maintenance tasks that can be predicted to occur from parameter and reagent information registered in the analyzer and measurement and maintenance records is read.
In step 805, a task schedule for each person in charge is prepared on the basis of the work schedule information read in step 803 and by incorporating the analyzer task event information read in step 804. The steps up to step 805 constitute a process for preparing the task schedule.
Subsequent steps constitute a process for controlling the task schedule. In step 806, it is determined whether there is any task event having the notification time of day arrived. If it is determined that there is such a task event, it is then determined in step 807 whether there is any task event having the notification time of day arriving within a specified period of time. If it is determined that there is such a task event, the user is notified in step 808 to perform applicable tasks collectively. If it is determined that there is no such task events, the user is notified in step 809 to perform the individual task.
Exemplary cases in which it is appropriate to perform tasks collectively include the following. For example, with respect to the reagent addition task, timing at which to add the reagent depends on the amount of reagent still available for use, thus varying from one reagent to another. Assume, however, a case, for example, in which a task event for adding a second reagent is scheduled to occur 10 minutes after a task event for adding a first reagent. Labor of reagent addition can be saved if the addition of the first reagent and the addition of the second reagent are successively performed. It is determined to be appropriate to perform tasks collectively in such a case.
It is common practice to perform calibration at predetermined time intervals for fear of deterioration of the reagent. In contrast, accuracy control is typically performed each time a predetermined number of samples have been measured. In a case, for example, in which the calibration and the accuracy control for a particular reagent are scheduled to occur at different timings apart slightly from each other, performing the calibration and the accuracy control in sequence is more efficient. In such a case, it is determined to be appropriate to perform the tasks collectively.
Then, in step 810, it is determined whether a set time of the end of an allocated period of time is yet to arrive. If it is determined that the set time is yet to arrive, the user is notified in step 811 to perform task events yet to be performed within the allocated period of time as residual tasks.
In step 812, it is determined whether there is any task that was not performed within the allocated period of time. If it is determined that there is such a task, the residual task is carried over to the task schedule for the subsequent person in charge in step 813.
Finally in step 814, it is determined whether there is any setting made to transmit the task schedule to the host system. If it is determined that there is such a setting made, the task schedule information is transmitted to the host system in step 815.
The following describes with reference to
When a task performance time of day arrives, the task notifying dialog screen 904 appears to prompt the user to perform the task.
The task notifying dialog screen 904 displays details of a specific task prompted to be performed in a task detail display area 905. A plurality of tasks, if involved, is displayed in a list format. Depression of a task performance screen shift button 906 displayed for each task causes the screen to shift directly to each task performance screen for performing the corresponding task, allowing the task to be quickly performed.
Depression of a task schedule screen shift button 907 causes the screen to shift to the task schedule screen, allowing the task schedule to be confirmed.
Depression of a close button 908 closes the task notifying dialog screen.
Providing the task notification function as described above allows the user to be notified of a task at a scheduled time of day even when he or she is performing another task, thus preventing omission of a task.
A task schedule screen shift button 903 is used to display the task schedule screen. Preferably, the task schedule screen shift button 903 is disposed in a global screen-independent display area 902 that is not dependent on the display of each screen such that the task schedule screen can be accessed and displayed from any other screen.
As described heretofore, in the embodiment, the advance input of the user's work schedule allows the time-series task schedule chart that represents a list of tasks to be performed by the user within the period of time allocated to him or her to be displayed when the user logs in to the operator unit of the automatic analyzer. The user can thereby check the specific task to be performed at the start of work, thus being able to formulate an efficient task plan in line with his or her work schedule.
In addition, the function of automatically notifying the user of the scheduled time of day for a task and of a task yet to be performed to thereby prompt the user to perform the tasks and the function of carrying a task yet to be performed over to the subsequent person in charge prevent omission of tasks. Additionally, an inquiry about task schedules of the preceding and subsequent persons in charge enables a task performance status to be confirmed and a task to which the person in charge is not accustomed to be performed ahead of the schedule.
Additionally, providing the communication function that receives information on the user's work schedule from the host system that integrally controls a plurality of automatic analyzers connected over the network and transmits information on the prepared task schedule to the host system enables the host system to integrally control the task schedule encompassing tasks to be performed by the user for the automatic analyzers within the period of time allocated to him or her. A workload on the user can thus be lessened and an efficient control of the task schedule can be achieved in a large-scale testing facility.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-235606 | Oct 2012 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2013/078576 | 10/22/2013 | WO | 00 |
