Sample discrimination system and sample automatic processing apparatus using same, and sample discrimination method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021373041-A1
Application number	US-201917272702-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2019
Priority date	Oct 25, 2018
Publication date	Dec 2, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is a technique for increasing discriminating ability, preventing human error, and improving efficiency of discrimination in a discrimination operation for extracting a sample satisfying a specific condition from among a plurality of samples. A sample discrimination system according to the present disclosure is provided with a plurality of sample retaining devices for retaining samples, and a sample information query device for querying a sample retaining device that matches predetermined query information from among the plurality of sample retaining devices. The sample information query device has a query information input unit for inputting of predetermined query information, and a query information transmission unit for transmitting predetermined query information to the sample retaining devices. The sample retaining devices are each characterized by having a storage unit for storing sample information, a comparison unit for comparing predetermined query information and sample information, and a first display unit for outputting the result of comparison by the comparison unit.

First claim

1 . A sample discrimination system comprising:
a plurality of sample retaining devices that retain samples; and a sample information query device that transmits a query of the sample retaining device that matches predetermined query information among the plurality of sample retaining devices, wherein the sample information query device includes a query information input unit configured to input the predetermined query information, and a query information transmission unit that transmits the predetermined query information to the sample retaining device, the sample retaining device includes a storage unit that stores sample information being information regarding the sample, a comparison unit that compares the predetermined query information transmitted from the sample information query device with the sample information stored in the storage unit, and a first display unit that outputs a comparison result by the comparison unit.

2 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 1 , wherein the query information transmission unit transmits the predetermined query information by light.

3 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 1 , wherein the sample information query device further includes a query region clarifying unit that transmits the predetermined query information to the sample retaining device located in a predetermined query region and enables the query region to be visually discriminated.

4 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 3 , wherein the query region clarifying unit emits the query region with visible light.

5 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 1 , wherein the sample retaining device further includes a photoelectric conversion element, and operates by power generated by the photoelectric conversion element.

6 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 5 , wherein the photoelectric conversion element is a receiving unit that receives the predetermined query information.

7 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 1 , wherein the comparison unit determines whether or not the sample information stored in the storage unit coincides with the predetermined query information received from the query information transmission unit, and
the first display unit displays coincidence or not-coincidence.

8 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 1 , wherein the first display unit operates only when the predetermined query information is received from the query information transmission unit.

9 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a comparison result detection unit that detects the comparison result by the first display unit in the sample retaining device, wherein the sample information query device is configured to be able to acquire position information of the sample retaining device based on a detection result by the comparison result detection unit.

10 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 9 , wherein
the comparison result detection unit is an optical camera.

11 . The sample discrimination system according to claim 9 , wherein the sample information query device further includes a second display unit that displays the detection result,
the second display unit displays information regarding the comparison result to be superimposed on the detection result, based on the detection result and the position information.

12 . A sample automatic processing apparatus that performs one or more processes on a plurality of samples, the apparatus comprising:
the sample discrimination system according to claim 1 .

13 . The sample automatic processing apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a control unit that controls the sample information query device.

14 . A sample discrimination method comprising:
a step of preparing a plurality of sample retaining devices that retain samples, the sample retaining device in which sample information being information regarding the sample is stored in a storage unit; a step of receiving predetermined query information by a sample information query device that transmits a query of the sample retaining device that matches the predetermined query information among the plurality of sample retaining devices; a step of transmitting the predetermined query information to the plurality of sample retaining devices by the sample information query device; a step of receiving the predetermined query information and comparing the predetermined query information with the sample information, by the sample retaining device; and a step of outputting a result of the comparison by the sample retaining device.

15 . The sample discrimination method according to claim 14 , wherein, in the step of transmitting the predetermined query information, the sample information query device transmits the predetermined query information by light.

16 . The sample discrimination method according to claim 14 , wherein, in the step of transmitting the predetermined query information, the sample information query device transmits the predetermined query information to the plurality of sample retaining devices located in a predetermined query region and enables the query region to be visually discriminated.

17 . The sample discrimination method according to claim 14 , wherein, in the step of comparing the predetermined query information with the sample information, the sample retaining device determines whether or not the sample information coincides with the predetermined query information, and
in the step of outputting the result of the comparison, the sample retaining device outputs coincidence or not-coincidence.

18 . The sample discrimination method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a step of detecting the result of the comparison by a comparison result detection unit configured to be able to detect the result of the comparison, by the sample retaining device; and a step of acquiring position information of the sample retaining device based on a result of the detection, by the sample information query device.

19 . The sample discrimination method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
a step of receiving the result of the detection by the comparison result detection unit and displaying information regarding the result of the comparison to be superimposed on the result of the detection, based on the result of the detection and the position information, by a display unit configured to be able to display the result of the detection by the comparison result detection unit.

Assignees

• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Miyasaka Tooru
• Shibata Toru
• Kambara Katsuhiro
• Yamaguchi Shigeki

Classifications

• G16H20/13

  delivered from dispensers · CPC title

• G01N2035/0091

  GUI [graphical user interfaces] · CPC title

• G01N35/00732 Primary

  Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers · CPC title

• G01N2035/00772

  mechanical or optical code other than bar code · CPC title

• G01N35/00722 Primary

  Communications; Identification · CPC title