Specimen processing device, specimen conveyance device, and specimen conveyance method
A specimen processing device comprising: a specimen processing unit for processing specimens; a first conveyance mechanism for conveying specimens from a carry-in side towards a carry-out side on the opposite side of the carry-in side with respect to the specimen processing unit through a specimen supply position for supplying specimens to the specimen processing unit; a second conveyance mechanism for conveying specimens from the carry-in side towards the carry-out side without passing the specimen supply position; a first control device for controlling the first conveyance mechanism; and a second control device for controlling the second conveyance mechanism, is disclosed. A specimen conveyance device and a specimen conveyance method are also disclosed.
1. A specimen processing device comprising
a specimen transporting unit configured to transport at least one specimen container at one time,
the specimen transporting unit comprises:
a first conveyance line extending from a receiving point, where the at least one specimen container is received from an upstream of the first conveyance line, to a discharging point, where the at least one specimen container is discharged to a downstream of the first conveyance line, the first conveyance line being controlled by a first controller to transport the at least one specimen container from the receiving point directly to the discharging point; and
a second conveyance line extending from a loading point, where the at least one specimen container is loaded from the receiving point, to an unloading point, where the at least one specimen container is unloaded onto the discharging point, via a supply point, where the at least one specimen container is supplied to a specimen processing unit for processing of a specimen contained in the at least one specimen container,
wherein responsive to one of (i) an instruction from the first controller and (ii) a detection of the at least one specimen container at the loading point, the second conveyance line begins controlled by a second controller, independently from an operation of the first conveyance line, to transport the at least one specimen container from the loading point to the supply point.
2. The specimen processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the second conveyance line is operable when the first conveyance line is inoperable.
3. The specimen processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the second conveyance line becomes responsive to a detection of the at least one specimen container at the loading point to transport the at least one specimen container the first conveyance line is inoperable.
4. The specimen processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the specimen processing unit is a specimen test unit which checks a plurality of test items in the specimen in the at least one specimen container; and
the first controller acquires a test order including a designation of test items, and transmits to the second controller the instruction, which comprises the acquired test order.
5. The specimen processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the second conveyance line includes a pre-analysis holder in which the at least one specimen container is stored before being sent to the supply point.
6. The specimen processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the second controller controls the specimen processing unit.
7. The specimen processing device according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the specimen transporting units connected in series, wherein each of the specimen transporting units is associated with at least one of the specimen processing unit.
8. The specimen processing device according to claim 7 , further comprising a third controller which selects one specimen processing unit to which the at least one specimen container is to be sent for processing of the specimen therein by the selected specimen processing unit.
9. The specimen processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first holding mechanism being operated by the second controller to temporarily hold the at least one specimen container moved from the receiving point of the first conveyance line to the loading point of the second conveyance line; and
a second holding mechanism being operated by the first controller to temporarily hold the at least one specimen container before the at least one specimen container is moved from the unloading point of the second conveyance line to the discharge point of the first conveyance line.
10. The specimen processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first conveyance line and the second conveyance line extend in parallel in part.
11. The specimen processing device according to claim 9 , wherein
the first holding mechanism and the second holding mechanism are arranged in parallel.
12. The specimen processing device according to claim 9 , wherein the first holding mechanism and the second conveyance line are operated by the second controller independently from operations of the second holding mechanism and the first conveyance line by the first controller.
13. The specimen processing device according to claim 12 , wherein the first holding mechanism and the second conveyance line are operated by the second controller when one of the second holding mechanism and the first conveyance line is inoperable.
14. The specimen processing device according to claim 9 , wherein the second controller controls the specimen processing unit.