Abstract: Provided is a test system operable with a simplified structure. A test system includes a first test device and a second test device each of which transports and tests a sample. The test device includes a master control unit, which performs assignment of samples to the first test device and the second test device, and control of a transport operation of the sample assigned to the test device. The test device includes a slave control unit, which controls a transport operation of the sample assigned to the test device by the master control unit.

Abstract: A transport apparatus transports sample holder racks. The apparatus employs a first transport unit that moves the rack in a path between two ends of the transport apparatus, a rack sender unit that extends in a first direction that intersects the path, a second transport unit dimensioned parallel to the first transport unit and with the rack sender unit interposed therebetween, which locates the sample container held in the rack at a sample loading position of a measurement device, and a first movable member capable of moving in the first direction between the first and the second transport units. The apparatus has movable portions that alternately stop the rack movement, and push the rack such that optimal movement is achieved whereby the rack moves beyond the rack sender unit to the second transport unit as the first movable member moves in the first direction.

Abstract: A sample sorting apparatus used in a sample processing system comprises a sample supplying apparatus, a sample processing apparatus, and a transporting apparatus connected to the sample processing apparatus. The sample sorting apparatus comprises a first entrance for receiving a sample rack from the sample supplying apparatus, a container conveyor configured to take out a sample container from the sample rack received through the first entrance and configured to set the taken out sample container on a sample rack, a first exit for sending the sample rack on which the sample container is set to the transporting apparatus, a second entrance for receiving the sample rack from the transporting apparatus, a second exit for sending the sample rack received through the second entrance to the sample supplying apparatus, and a transporter configured to transport the sample rack from the second entrance to the second exit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tube sorter comprising: a transporting section configured to transport a sample rack; a storage arranged at a higher level than the transporting section, capable of storing a plurality of sample tubes; a lifting section configured to lift up the sample rack transported by the rack transporting section; and a sample tube transferring section configured to remove a sample tube from the sample rack lifted up by the lifting section and set the removed sample tube in the storage.

Abstract: A transport apparatus transports sample holder racks. The apparatus employs a first transport unit that moves the rack in a path between two ends of the transport apparatus, a rack sender unit that extends in a first direction that intersects the path, a second transport unit dimensioned parallel to the first transport unit and with the rack sender unit interposed therebetween, which locates the sample container held in the rack at a sample loading position of a measurement device, and a first movable member capable of moving in the first direction between the first and the second transport units. The apparatus has movable portions that alternately stop the rack movement, and push the rack such that optimal movement is achieved whereby the rack moves beyond the rack sender unit to the second transport unit as the first movable member moves in the first direction.

Abstract: Provided is a test system operable with a simplified structure. A test system includes a test device and a test device each of which transports and tests a sample. The test device includes a master control unit, which performs assignment of samples to the test device and the test device, and control of a transport operation of the sample assigned to the test device. The test device includes a slave control unit, which controls a transport operation of the sample assigned to the test device by the master control unit.

Abstract: A sample rack transport system comprising: a plurality of transport apparatuses which are connected so as to transport a sample rack to a plurality of sample processing apparatuses; and a control apparatus which communicates with the plurality of transport apparatuses and controls the transport of the sample rack by the plurality of transport apparatuses, wherein at least one of the plurality of transport apparatuses includes a transmission switch which is operated by a user to transmit a signal to the control apparatus, and when the transport of the sample rack has stopped due to a trouble which occurred in one of the plurality of transport apparatuses, responsive to an operation of a transmission switch of another transport apparatus, the control apparatus restarts the transport of the sample rack by the plurality of transport apparatuses. Also, a method for transporting a sample rack.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tube sorter comprising: a transporting section configured to transport a sample rack; a storage arranged at a higher level than the transporting section, capable of storing a plurality of sample tubes; a lifting section configured to lift up the sample rack transported by the rack transporting section; and a sample tube transferring section configured to remove a sample tube from the sample rack lifted up by the lifting section and set the removed sample tube in the storage.

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of sample processing units each configured to process a sample; at least one transport device configured to provide a transport path along which a rack is transported to or from one of the plurality of sample processing units, wherein a rack comprises a plurality of positions configured to hold containers thereat, and at least some of the positions are correlated to at least some of the sample processing units; a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory that stores computer programs executed by the at least one processor to: direct the at least one transport device to transport the rack to deliver a container held therein to a sample processing unit correlated to a position of the container at which the container is held in the rack.

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of sample processing units, each processing a sample contained in a sample container; a transport apparatus that transports a sample rack holding a sample container to at least any one of the plurality of sample processing units; a rack feeding section that receives a sample rack and feeds the received sample rack to a transport line of the transport apparatus; and a controller configured to instruct the transport apparatus, according to a quantity of sample racks received by the rack feeding section, to transport a sample rack fed by the rack feeding section to either (a) a sample processing unit which can accept a subsequent sample rack more rapidly than any other sample processing unit or (b) a sample processing unit having a lower processing load than any other sample processing unit. Also, a sample rack transporting method.

Abstract: A sample sorting apparatus used in a sample processing system comprises a sample supplying apparatus, a sample processing apparatus, and a transporting apparatus connected to the sample processing apparatus. The sample sorting apparatus comprises a first entrance for receiving a sample rack from the sample supplying apparatus, a container conveyor configured to take out a sample container from the sample rack received through the first entrance and configured to set the taken out sample container on a sample rack, a first exit for sending the sample rack on which the sample container is set to the transporting apparatus, a second entrance for receiving the sample rack from the transporting apparatus, a second exit for sending the sample rack received through the second entrance to the sample supplying apparatus, and a transporter configured to transport the sample rack from the second entrance to the second exit.

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of sample processing units each configured to process a sample; at least one transport device configured to provide a transport path along which a rack is transported to or from one of the plurality of sample processing units, wherein a rack comprises a plurality of positions configured to hold containers thereat, and at least some of the positions are correlated to at least some of the sample processing units; a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory that stores computer programs executed by the at least one processor to: direct the at least one transport device to transport the rack to deliver a container held therein to a sample processing unit correlated to a position of the container at which the container is held in the rack.

Abstract: Analyzers are described that include a conveyance device for transporting containers which contain analyte, each container having identification information; an identification information reader for reading an identification information of a container transported at a first position by the conveyance device; an analyzer body for acquiring an analyte from a container transported at a second position by the conveyance device and analyzing the analyte; and an anomaly notification device for reporting an anomaly if the identification information reader consecutively reads the same identification information. Conveyance device and transport anomaly determination method are also described.

Abstract: A sample rack transport system comprising: a plurality of transport apparatuses which are connected so as to transport a sample rack to a plurality of sample processing apparatuses; and a control apparatus which communicates with the plurality of transport apparatuses and controls the transport of the sample rack by the plurality of transport apparatuses, wherein at least one of the plurality of transport apparatuses includes a transmission switch which is operated by a user to transmit a signal to the control apparatus, and when the transport of the sample rack has stopped due to a trouble which occurred in one of the plurality of transport apparatuses, responsive to an operation of a transmission switch of another transport apparatus, the control apparatus restarts the transport of the sample rack by the plurality of transport apparatuses. Also, a method for transporting a sample rack.

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of sample processing units, each processing a sample contained in a sample container; a transport apparatus that transports a sample rack holding a sample container to at least any one of the plurality of sample processing units; a rack feeding section that receives a sample rack and feeds the received sample rack to a transport line of the transport apparatus; and a controller configured to instruct the transport apparatus, according to a quantity of sample racks received by the rack feeding section, to transport a sample rack fed by the rack feeding section to either (a) a sample processing unit which can accept a subsequent sample rack more rapidly than any other sample processing unit or (b) a sample processing unit having a lower processing load than any other sample processing unit. Also, a sample rack transporting method.

Abstract: Analyzers are described that includes a first conveyance device for transporting a container accommodating analyte; a first analyzer body for analyzing analyte accommodated in a container transported by the first conveyance device; a first transmission device for transmitting a first information through a first path from the first conveyance device to a predetermined computer; a second transmission device for transmitting a second information through a second path from the first analyzer body to the predetermined computer without passing through the first conveyance device; and setting device for setting whether or not to transmit the first information to the predetermined computer. Analyzing systems are also described.

Abstract: A cell image processing apparatus includes a large area image obtainer for obtaining a large area image which is obtained by imaging an area including a white blood cell and a red blood cell, a processing part for obtaining a portion image including the white blood cell from the large area image, and a memory for storing the portion image as an image for monitoring white blood cell and storing the large area image as an image for monitoring red blood cell.

Abstract: Analyzers are described that includes a first conveyance device for transporting a container accommodating analyte; a first analyzer body for analyzing analyte accommodated in a container transported by the first conveyance device; a first transmission device for transmitting a first information through a first path from the first conveyance device to a predetermined computer; a second transmission device for transmitting a second information through a second path from the first analyzer body to the predetermined computer without passing through the first conveyance device; and setting device for setting whether or not to transmit the first information to the predetermined computer. Analyzing systems are also described.

Abstract: Analyzers are described that includes a conveyance device for transporting containers which include a conveyance device for transporting containers which contain analyte, each container having identification information; an identificaiton information reader for reading an identification information of a container transported at a first position by the conveyance device; an analyzer body for acquiring an analyte from a container transported at a second position by the conveyance device and analyzing the analyte; and an anomaly notification device for reporting an anomaly if the identificaiton information reader consecutively reads the same identification information. Conveyance device and transport anomaly determination method are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein assayed specimens can be transferred in any order to a specimen-container housing rack automatically and very efficiently, without any restrictions whatsoever on the order in which the specimen containers are placed in the specimen-container racks and assayed, even if different types of specimen vessel are present.