Sample processing apparatus

A method for guiding execution of an error-solving operation, the method executed by a computer of a clinical sample processing apparatus to implement steps comprising:

• processing and analyzing the clinical sample by the clinical sample processing apparatus;
• detecting an error in the clinical sample processing apparatus;
• upon detection of the error, displaying, on a display of the clinical sample processing apparatus, an error message and a button image operable to call up an electronic manual;
• upon operation of the button image, accessing a non-transitory memory of the clinical sample processing apparatus that stores the electronic manual for the clinical sample processing apparatus including a plurality of pages, at least some of the pages describing operation procedures for measuring a clinical sample and some of the pages describing operation procedures for dealing with several errors including a predefined number of different types of errors, and link information that links errors in the clinical sample processing apparatus to relevant pages of the electronic manual to operation procedures for dealing with the error, wherein accessing the non-transitory memory comprises locating the link information stored in the non-transitory memory in relation to the error, and
• creating a view on the display of a particular page of the electronic manual that is designated by the link information, wherein the particular page appearing in the view differs depending upon the type of error;
• and
• displaying the created view of the electronic manual in a scrollable manner.

A clinical sample processing apparatus, comprising:

• a sample processing unit configured to process a clinical sample;
• a display;
• and
• a computer connected to the sample processing unit and to the display, and comprising a non-transitory memory having an electronic manual for the clinical sample processing apparatus stored therein, the electronic manual is deployed in the non-transitory memory to include a plurality of pages, at least some of the pages describing operation procedures for measuring a clinical sample and at least some of the pages describing operation procedures for dealing with several types of errors,
• wherein the non-transitory memory further includes link information designating a part of the electronic manual with respect to the operation procedure for dealing with each of the several types of errors, and
• the computer is programmed to:
• determine that an error has occurred in the sample processing unit;
• upon determination that the error has occurred, display a screen image that includes the error, an operation procedure instruction button image and a message indicating user action for dealing with the error;
• read out the link information from the non-transitory memory responsive to an operation of the operation procedure instruction button image;
• create a view of a page of the electronic manual with reference to the link information that directs the view to a particular page associated with a type of the error, wherein the link information directs the view to a page describing the operation procedure for dealing with the type of error;
• and
• display the created view of the electronic manual, that allows a user to scroll to other pages of the electronic manual.

A clinical sample processing apparatus comprising:

• a sample processing unit configured to process a clinical sample using reagents in a plurality of reagent containers;
• a display;
• and
• a computer connected to the sample processing unit and to the display, and comprising a non-transitory memory having an electronic manual for the clinical sample processing apparatus stored therein, the electronic manual including a series of operation procedures for measuring a clinical sample and for dealing with different types of errors in page sequence,
• wherein the non-transitory memory further includes link information designating a part of the electronic manual with respect to the operation procedure for dealing with each of the different types of errors,
• the computer is programmed to determine that an error has occurred in the sample processing unit and to read out the link information from the non-transitory memory, and display the part of the electronic manual with respect to the operation procedure for dealing with a type of the error designated with the link information,
• wherein the computer is further programmed to:
• determine an insufficiency of reagent remaining in one of the reagent containers;
• upon determination of the insufficiency of reagent, display a reagent replacement dialogue screen that includes a list of the reagent containers, a remaining amount of reagent in each of the reagent containers, and an identification of the reagent container having the insufficiency of reagent;
• and
• upon receipt of an input from a user after the reagent is replaced, terminate the reagent replacement dialogue.

A clinical sample measuring apparatus, comprising:

• a sample measuring unit configured to measure a clinical sample;
• a display;
• and
• a computer connected to the sample measuring unit and to the display, and comprising a non-transitory memory having an electronic manual for the clinical sample processing apparatus stored therein, the electronic manual includes a series of operation procedures for measuring a clinical sample and for dealing with each type of error in page sequence,
• wherein the non-transitory memory further includes link information designating a part of the electronic manual with respect to the operation procedure for dealing with different types of errors,
• the computer is programmed to determine that an error has occurred in the sample measuring unit and to read out the link information from the non-transitory memory, and display the part of the electronic manual with respect to the operation procedure for dealing with a type of error designated with the link information,
• wherein the non-transitory memory includes test results obtained by the sample measuring unit,
• the computer is further programmed to:
• when a quality control test result of a quality control substance has exceeded a normal range, display a dialogue screen including a detail data display button image and an error display region indicating a quality control error;
• and
• responsive to an operation of the detail data display button image, display a chart showing a history of quality control test results of the quality control substance.