Sample processing apparatus management system, sample processing apparatus and management apparatus, and management method

Abstract

Provided is a sample processing apparatus management system, sample processing apparatuses and a management apparatus, and a management method that can accurately and easily adjust the respective sample processing apparatuses irrespective of their individual differences. When abnormality has occurred in a sample analyzer, the sample analyzer requests approval for self-adjustment from a management server. The management server determines whether to permit performance of the self-adjustment, and when having determined to permit the self-adjustment, notifies the sample analyzer of the approval for the self-adjustment. When the approval for the self-adjustment has been notified of, the sample analyzer performs the self-adjustment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sample processing apparatus management system comprising:
 a sample processing apparatus which processes samples; and   a management apparatus communicably connected to the sample processing apparatus,   the sample processing apparatus comprising:   a self-adjustment section which performs self-adjustment; and   a first communication section which requests an approval of the self-adjustment, before the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section is performed,   the management apparatus comprising:   a determination section which determines whether to approve the request; and   a second communication section which informs, when approving the request to perform the self-adjustment, the sample processing apparatus of approval of the request, wherein   the sample processing apparatus is configured to perform, when informed that the request has been approved, the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section.   
     
     
         2 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the sample processing apparatus further comprises an event detection section which detects an event for starting the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section, and   the first communication section is configured to request the approval when the event detection section has detected the event.   
     
     
         3 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the sample processing apparatus further comprises an abnormality detector which detects abnormality in the sample processing apparatus, and   the event detection section is configured to detect, as the event, the detection of the abnormality by the abnormality detector.   
     
     
         4 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the sample processing apparatus further comprises a type determination section which determines a type of the event detected by the event detection section,   the first communication section is configured to request the approval when the type determination section has determined that the type of the event detected by the event detection section is a first type, and configured not to request the approval when the type determination section has determined that the type of the event detected by the event detection section is a second type which is different from the first type, and   the sample processing apparatus is configured such that, in a case where the type determination section has determined that the type of the event detected by the event detection section is the first type, the sample processing apparatus performs the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section when informed that the request has been approved, and in a case where the type determination section has determined that the type of the event detected by the event detection section is the second type, the sample processing apparatus performs the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section, without waiting for the approval.   
     
     
         5 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the sample processing apparatus further comprises an adjustment value generation section which generates an adjustment value for the sample processing apparatus, and   the self-adjustment section is configured to perform the self-adjustment of the sample processing apparatus to the adjustment value generated by the adjustment value generation section.   
     
     
         6 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the sample processing apparatus further comprises:   a measurement unit which measures samples;   a memory in which calibration information for calibrating a measurement result is stored; and   a conversion section which converts a measurement result obtained by the measurement unit, based on the calibration information stored in the memory,   the adjustment value generation section is configured to generate calibration information as the adjustment value for the sample processing apparatus, based on a measurement result obtained by the measurement unit measuring a calibration information generation specimen, and   the self-adjustment section is configured to perform the self-adjustment of the sample processing apparatus, by storing in the memory the calibration information generated by the adjustment value generation section.   
     
     
         7 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the sample processing apparatus further comprises an operation mechanism whose position can be adjusted and which performs an operation regarding sample measurement,   the adjustment value generation section is configured to generate a position adjustment amount for the operation mechanism as the adjustment value for the sample processing apparatus, and   the self-adjustment section is configured to perform the self-adjustment of the sample processing apparatus by adjusting the position of the operation mechanism based on the position adjustment amount generated by the adjustment value generation section.   
     
     
         8 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the operation mechanism is configured to be able to move to a specific position for sample measurement, and   the adjustment value generation section is configured to generate the position adjustment amount for positioning the operation mechanism at the specific position.   
     
     
         9 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the operation mechanism is a dispensing mechanism which moves to an aspirating position for aspirating a sample or a reagent and aspirates the sample or the reagent, and which moves to a discharging position for discharging a sample or a reagent and discharges the sample or the reagent.   
     
     
         10 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first communication section is configured to request the approval with transmitting information for specifying a user who uses the sample processing apparatus, and   the determination section is configured to determine whether to approve the request, based on the specifying information.   
     
     
         11 . The sample processing apparatus management system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first communication section is configured to request the approval with transmitting the adjustment value generated by the adjustment value generation section, and   the determination section is configured to determine whether to approve the request, based on the adjustment value.   
     
     
         12 . A sample processing apparatus which is communicably connected to a management apparatus and which processes samples, the sample processing apparatus comprising:
 a self-adjustment section which performs self-adjustment; and   a communication section which requests, to the management apparatus, an approval of the self-adjustment, before the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section is performed, wherein   the sample processing apparatus is configured to perform, when informed that the request has been approved, the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section.   
     
     
         13 . The sample processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an event detection section which detects an event for starting the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section, wherein   the communication section is configured to request the approval when the event detection section has detected the event.   
     
     
         14 . The sample processing apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: an abnormality detector which detects abnormality in the sample processing apparatus, wherein
 the event detection section is configured to detect, as the event, the detection of the abnormality by the abnormality detector.   
     
     
         15 . The sample processing apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a type determination section which determines a type of the event detected by the event detection section, wherein   the communication section is configured to request the approval when the type determination section has determined that the type of the event detected by the event detection section is a first type, and configured not to request the approval when the type determination section has determined that the type of the event detected by the event detection section is a second type which is different from the first type, and   the sample processing apparatus is configured such that, in a case where the type determination section has determined that the type of the event detected by the event detection section is the first type, the sample processing apparatus performs the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section when informed that the request has been approved by the management apparatus, and in a case where the type determination section has determined that the type of the event detected by the event detection section is the second type, the sample processing apparatus performs the self-adjustment by the self-adjustment section, without waiting the approval.   
     
     
         16 . A management apparatus communicably connected to a sample processing apparatus which processes samples, the management apparatus comprising:
 a determination section which determines, when an approval of a self-adjustment has been requested from the sample processing apparatus, whether to approve the request; and   a communication section which informs, when the determination section has determined to approve the request, the sample processing apparatus of approval of the request.   
     
     
         17 . A managing method for a sample processing apparatus by using the sample processing apparatus and a management apparatus, the method comprising:
 requesting, before performing self-adjustment, an approval of self-adjustment to the management apparatus from the sample processing apparatus;   informing, when approving the sample processing apparatus to perform the self-adjustment, the sample processing apparatus of approval of request, from the management apparatus; and   performing self-adjustment by the sample processing apparatus when the sample processing apparatus is informed that the request has been approved.   
     
     
         18 . The management method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an event detection step of the sample processing apparatus detecting an event for starting the self-adjustment, wherein   the request of approval is made when the event has been detected.   
     
     
         19 . The management method according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the event detection step includes a step of detecting, as the event, abnormality in the sample processing apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . The management method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a determination step of the sample processing apparatus determining a type of the event detected in the event detection step, wherein   when the type of the event is a type of an event for which the self-adjustment should be performed without waiting for the approval, the self-adjustment step performs the self-adjustment without waiting for the approval.