Sample measuring system and sample measuring method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11400455-B2
Application number	US-201916261286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2019
Priority date	Jan 31, 2018
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

A sample measuring system to reduce waste generated in a plurality of measurement units to be discarded to a common disposal unit while suppressing interference between measurement units due to waste disposal is provided. The sample measuring system includes a first measurement unit and a second measurement unit for measuring a sample, and a common disposal unit for storing waste generated from the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit. The first measurement unit includes a first disposal port connected to the disposal unit for discharging the waste generated in the first measurement unit. The second measurement unit includes a second disposal port connected to the disposal unit for discharging the waste generated in the second measurement unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sample measuring system comprising:
a first measurement unit configured to measure a first sample and a second measurement unit configured to measure a second sample, wherein the first measurement unit occupies a first area of the sample measuring system, and
wherein the second measurement unit occupies a second area of the sample measuring system different from the first area; and

a disposal unit for commonly storing waste generated from the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit;
wherein the first measurement unit includes a first disposal port located within the first area and connected to the disposal unit for discharging the waste generated in the first measurement unit, a first control unit, and at least one first movable waste input unit configured to move the waste generated in the first measurement unit to the first disposal port and input the waste generated in the first measurement unit to the first disposal port, wherein the first control unit is programmed to control the at least one first movable waste input unit to move only within the first area and not within the second area such that the first measurement unit can dispose of waste via the first disposal port independently of the second measurement unit and without interfering with operations of the second measurement unit; and
wherein the second measurement unit includes a second disposal port located within the second area and connected to the disposal unit for discharging the waste generated in the second measuring unit, a second control unit, and at least one second movable waste input unit configured to move the waste generated in the second measurement unit to the second disposal port and input the waste generated in the second measurement unit to the second disposal port, wherein the second control unit is programmed to control the at least one second movable waste input unit to move only within the second area and not within the first area such that the second measurement unit can dispose of waste via the second disposal port independently of the first measurement unit and without interfering with operations of the first measurement unit.

2. The sample measuring system according to claim 1 , wherein
the disposal unit accepts the waste containing at least one of a reaction container for preparing at least one of the first sample or the second sample and a pipette tip for dispensing at least one of the first sample or the second sample.

3. The sample measuring system according to claim 1 , wherein
the disposal unit accepts the waste that has been in contact with at least one of the first sample or the second sample.

4. The sample measuring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a waste information acquiring unit that acquires information on the amount of the waste stored in the disposal unit; and
a notifying unit that issues notification of information on the amount of the waste acquired by the waste information acquiring unit.

5. The sample measuring system according to claim 4 , wherein
the waste information acquiring unit acquires information on the amount of the waste based on the total value of the number of times of execution of a measurement order in each of the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit.

6. The sample measuring system according to claim 4 , wherein
the disposal unit comprises a waste sensor for detecting the waste stored in the disposal unit; and
the waste information acquiring unit acquires information on the amount of waste based on a detection signal of the waste sensor.

7. The sample measuring system according to claim 4 , wherein
the notifying unit alerts to the fact when the amount of the waste is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount.

8. The sample measuring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing provided with the disposal unit;
wherein the disposal unit comprises a waste box configured to be withdrawn from the housing.

9. The sample measuring system according to claim 8 , wherein
the disposal unit has a connection opening for receiving the waste discarded from the second disposal port into the waste box.

10. The sample measuring system according to claim 8 , wherein
the disposal unit is provided so as to extend in a depth direction of the housing from a front surface of the housing to a back surface side of the housing.

11. The sample measuring system according to claim 10 , wherein
the disposal unit extends in the depth direction to a position of the first disposal port and the second disposal port that is on the back side of the housing.

12. The sample measuring system according to claim 8 , wherein
the disposal unit, in a plan view, is arranged at a position on the second measurement unit side from a center within the first measurement unit, or a position on the first measurement unit side from a center within the second measurement unit.

13. The sample measuring system according to claim 12 , wherein
the first disposal port is arranged at a position in the first area on the second measurement unit side from a center in the first measurement unit in the plan view; and
the second disposal port is arranged at a position in the second area on the first measurement unit side from a center in the second measurement unit in the plan view.

14. The sample measuring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a waste transfer unit for transferring the waste discharged from at least one of the first disposal port and the second disposal port to the disposal unit.

15. The sample measuring system according to claim 14 , wherein
the waste transfer unit comprises:
a first waste transfer unit that transfers the waste discharged from the first disposal port of the first measurement unit;
a second waste transfer unit that transfers the waste discharged from the second disposal port of the second measurement unit.

16. The sample measuring system according to claim 15 , wherein
the first waste transfer unit and the second waste transfer unit are configured to deliver the waste to be transferred to the disposal unit.

17. The sample measuring system according to claim 14 wherein
the waste transfer unit comprises a first chute unit communicating the first disposal port and the disposal unit, and a second chute unit communicating the second disposal port and the disposal unit.

18. The sample measuring system according to claim 1 , wherein the first waste input unit is configured to input the waste to the first disposal port irrespective of the operations of the second measurement unit, and wherein the second waste input unit is configured to input the waste to the second disposal port irrespective of the operations of the first measurement unit.

19. The sample measuring system according to claim 1 , wherein the first measurement unit is in a first housing and the second measurement unit is in a second housing separate from the first housing.

20. A sample measuring method comprising the steps of:
measuring a first sample in a first measurement unit, wherein the first measurement unit occupies a first area of a sample measuring system;
moving a first movable waste input unit only within the first area and not within a second area of a second measurement unit;
moving, by the first movable waste input unit, a first waste generated by the first measurement unit to a first disposal port provided in the first area for the first measurement unit and introducing the first waste into the first

Assignees

• Sysmex Corp

Inventors

• Kotake Hiroki
• Yoshimura Kenji
• Watanabe Yuji
• Shiba Masaki

Classifications

• B01L9/543 Primary

  for disposable pipette tips, e.g. racks or cassettes · CPC title

• G01N35/00

  Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor · CPC title

• B01L1/50 Primary

  for storing hazardous materials in the laboratory, e.g. cupboards, waste containers (sample containers B01L3/50) · CPC title

• G01N2035/00306

  Housings, cabinets, control panels (details) · CPC title

• G01N2035/00277

  Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material) · CPC title