Automatic analysis method, automatic analysis apparatus, and program for the automatic analysis apparatus each using multivariate curve resolution

Abstract

Provided are an automatic analysis method, an automatic analysis apparatus, and a program for the automatic analysis apparatus capable of discriminating a number of components included in a sample more accurately and easily. Components are discriminated based on respective pieces of resolution spectral data obtained by multivariate curve resolution (MCR) using a provisional number of components k, and the number of components included in the sample is determined based on a discriminated result. At this time, the multivariate curve resolution is repeated (steps S103 to S108) until a border value between the provisional number of components k in a case where the components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution and the provisional number of components k in a case where the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution is obtained. As a result, the number of components included in the sample can be discriminated more accurately and easily based on the obtained border value (step S113).

Claims

1. An automatic analysis apparatus for discriminating and determining the number of components included in a sample, said automatic analysis apparatus comprising: a measuring device which obtains a spectral data on components included in the sample, a data input section into which the spectral data is input from the measuring device, a multivariate curve resolution execution processor implemented by a CPU of the automatic analysis apparatus which executes instructions which sets a provisional number of components as a number of components included in the sample, and executes a multivariate curve resolution on the spectral data input into the data input section using the provisional number of components, and obtains resolution spectral data whose number of pieces is the same as a provisional number of components; a component discrimination processor implemented by the CPU which executes instructions which discriminates components based on all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution; a component number determination processor implemented by the CPU which executes instructions which determines the number of components included in the sample based on the result of discriminating the components, wherein the multivariate curve resolution execution processor executes instructions which increases or decreases a provisional number of components, and repeats the multivariate curve resolution until a border value between a provisional number of components in a case where the components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution and a provisional number of components in a case where the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution is obtained, the component number determination processor determines the number of components included in the sample based on the border value, and the measuring device detects spectra at a plurality of measurement points on a surface of the sample, and obtains a measurement data matrix based on the spectra at each of the measurement points.

2. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a program product for an automatic analysis apparatus for discriminating and determining the number of components included in a sample for making an automatic analysis apparatus function as: a measuring device for obtaining spectral data on components included in the sample, a data input section into which the spectral data is input from the measuring device, a multivariate curve resolution execution processor implemented by a CPU of the automatic analysis apparatus for setting a provisional number of components as a number of components included in the sample, and executing a multivariate curve resolution on the spectral data input into the data input section using the provisional number of components, and obtaining resolution spectral data whose number of pieces is the same as a provisional number of components; a component discrimination processor implemented by the CPU for discriminating components based on all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution; a component number determining processor implemented by the CPU for determining the number of components included in the sample based on the result of discriminating the components, wherein the multivariate curve resolution execution processor increases or decreases a provisional number of components, and repeats the multivariate curve resolution until a border value between a provisional number of components in a case where the components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution and a provisional number of components in a case where the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution is obtained, the component number determination processor determines the number of components included in the sample based on the border value, and the measuring device detects spectra at a plurality of measurement points on a surface of the sample, and obtains a measurement data matrix based on the spectra at each of the measurement points.

3. An automatic analysis method for discriminating and determining the number of components included in a sample, said automatic analysis method comprising: a spectral data obtainment step executed by a measuring device, the spectral data obtainment step comprising obtaining a spectral data on components included in the sample, a data input step in which the spectral data is input into a data input section connectable to the measuring device, a multivariate curve resolution executing step executed by a multivariate curve execution processor implemented by a CPU of an automatic analysis apparatus, the multivariate curve resolution executing step comprising setting a provisional number of components as a number of components included in the sample, and executing a multivariate curve resolution on the spectral data input into the data input section using the provisional number of components so as to obtain resolution spectral data whose number of pieces is the same as a provisional number of components; a component discriminating step executed by a component discriminating processor implemented by the CPU, the component discriminating step comprising discriminating components based on the respective pieces of resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution; a component number determining step executed by a component number determining processor implemented by the CPU, the component number determining step comprising determining a number of the components included in the sample based on the result of discriminating the components, wherein at the multivariate curve resolution executing step, a provisional number of components is increased or decreased so that the multivariate curve resolution is repeated until a border value between a provisional number of components in a case where components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution and a provisional number of components in a case where the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution is obtained, at the component number determining step, a number of the components included in the sample is determined based on the border value, at the multivariate curve resolution executing step, when the components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, a provisional number of components is increased one by one so that the multivariate curve resolution is repeated until the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, at the component number determining step, when the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, a provisional number of components at that time is used as the border value, and a value obtained by subtracting one from the border value is determined as the number of components included in the sample, wherein at the multivariate curve resolution execution step the provisional number of components is initially set to a value of 2, and wherein in the spectral data obtainment step, the measuring device detects spectra at a plurality of measurement points on a surface of the sample, and obtains a measurement data matrix based on the spectra at each of the measurement points.

4. The automatic analysis method according to claim 3, wherein at the multivariate curve resolution executing step, when the provisional number of components reaches the predetermined repetition determined value, execution of the multivariate curve resolution is ended.

5. The automatic analysis method according to claim 3, wherein at the component discriminating step, a library of spectral data about known components is used, and all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution is compared with the spectral data in the library, so that the components are discriminated.

6. The automatic analysis method according to claim 3, wherein at the component discriminating step, all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution are compared with each other, and the components are discriminated based on whether similarities of the resolution spectral data are a predetermined threshold or more.

7. The automatic analysis method according to claim 3, further comprising: a concentration distribution display step executed by a display processor implemented by the CPU, the concentration distribution display step comprising displaying concentration distribution of the components discriminated at the component discriminating step as a chemical image.

8. The automatic analysis method according to claim 3, wherein in the data input step, the measurement data matrix is also input into the data input section connectable to the measuring device.

9. The automatic analysis method according to claim 8, wherein the multivariate curve resolution executing step includes calculating a spectral matrix composed of the resolution spectral data of the components based on the measurement data matrix input into the data input section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a constitutional example of an automatic analysis apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating one example of the resolution spectral data in a case where the multivariate curve resolution is executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=2;

(3) FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one example of the resolution spectral data in a case where the multivariate curve resolution is executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=3;

(4) FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a process to be executed by the control section;

(5) FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a process to be executed by the control section of the automatic analysis apparatus according to another embodiment;

(6) FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the resolution spectral data in a case where the multivariate curve resolution is executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=2 in the embodiment of the present invention; and

(7) FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the resolution spectral data in a case where the multivariate curve resolution is executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=3 in the embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a constitutional example of an automatic analysis apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. The automatic analysis apparatus is an apparatus for analyzing components included in a sample by using multivariate curve resolution (MCR). The automatic analysis apparatus includes a control section 1, a data input section 2, an operating section 3, a display section 4, a multivariate curve resolution result storage section 5, a library storage section 6, and a spectral retrieval result storage section 7.

(9) The control section 1 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and executes programs so as to function as respective various function parts such as a multivariate curve resolution execution processor 11, a component discrimination processor 12, a component number determination processor 13, and a concentration distribution display processor 14. At the time of an analysis, a measuring device (not shown) detects spectra at a plurality of measurement points on a sample surface (a plurality of divided regions on the sample surface), for example, and a measurement data matrix D is obtained based on the spectra at the measurement points.

(10) The measurement data matrix D can be obtained by, for example, transposing column vectors d.sub.1, d.sub.2, . . . , d.sub.n representing spectra at n-number of measurement points and arranging them in tandem. The measurement data matrix D obtained in such a manner is input into the control section 1 via the data input section 2. The data input section 2 may be constituted so as to be connectable to the measuring device in a wired or wireless way, or so that data obtained by the measuring device is input into the data input section 2 via a storage medium. Further, the automatic analysis apparatus of the present invention can be constituted integrally with the measuring device.

(11) The multivariate curve resolution result storage section 5, the library storage section 6, and the spectral retrieval result storage section 7 can be composed of one or a plurality of memories, namely, can be composed of, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory). The operating section 3 includes, for example, a keyboard or a mouse, and an analyst operates the operating section 3 so as to be capable of performing input works. The display section 4 can be composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and thus analyzed results can be displayed on the display section 4.

(12) The multivariate curve resolution execution processor 11 executes the multivariate curve resolution based on the measurement data matrix D input from the data input section 2. In order to perform the multivariate curve resolution, since the number of components to be resolved should be set in advance, the provisional number of components k is set as the number of components included in the sample in this embodiment, and the multivariate curve resolution is executed by using the provisional number of components k.

(13) In the multivariate curve resolution, a concentration matrix C.sub.k and the spectral matrix S.sub.k in which a sum of squares of elements of a residual matrix E.sub.k in the following expression (3) is minimum are calculated based on the measurement data matrix D. Such a process can be executed by using, for example, a publicly known algorithm such as an alternating least squares method (ALS). A symbol S.sub.k.sup.T in the following expression (3) is a transposed matrix of the spectral matrix S.sub.k.
D=C.sub.kS.sub.k.sup.T+E.sub.k(3)

(14) The concentration matrix C.sub.k and the spectral matrix S.sub.k that are calculated (resolved) in the above manner are related with each other so as to be stored in the multivariate curve resolution result storage section 5. The spectra in the respective columns of the spectral matrix S.sub.k compose resolution spectral data about respective components obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, and the resolution spectral data whose number of pieces is the same as the provisional number of components k are obtained.

(15) The component discrimination processor 12 discriminates components based on the respective pieces of resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution. In this embodiment, components can be discriminated by using a library of spectral data about known components (known spectral data) stored in the library storage section 6.

(16) Concretely, the respective pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution are compared with the respective pieces of known spectral data in the library stored in the library storage section 6, so that matched components are retrieved (spectral retrieval). This spectral retrieval can be performed in a manner that, for example, similarity between the respective pieces of the resolution spectral data and the respective pieces of known spectral data is calculated, and components corresponding to the known spectral data whose similarity is the highest are used as the retrieved result. As a result, components corresponding to the respective pieces of the resolution spectral data can be discriminated (identified), and the discriminated result (spectral retrieval result) is stored in the spectral retrieval result storage section 7.

(17) In this embodiment, the provisional number of components k is set to 2 as an initial value so that the multivariate curve resolution is executed. When the components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, the provisional number of components k is increased one by one and the multivariate curve resolution is repeated until components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution.

(18) That is to say, while components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, different components might be included in a sample. For this reason, the provisional number of components k is increased one by one and the multivariate curve resolution is executed. As a result of increasing the provisional number of components k one by one and repeating the multivariate curve resolution in such a manner, when components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, the provisional number of components k can be discriminated as exceeding an actual number of components.

(19) The provisional number of components k that is discriminated as exceeding the actual number of components is a border value between a provisional number of components (k1) to be discriminated as different components in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, and a provisional number of components (k) to be discriminated as the matched components in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution. In this embodiment, the multivariate curve resolution is repeated until the border value (the provisional number of components k) is obtained, and the number of components included in the sample can be determined based on the obtained border value.

(20) The component number determination processor 13 determines the number of components included in the sample based on the result of the components discriminated by the component discrimination processor 12. In this embodiment, a value (k1) obtained by subtracting one from the border value is determined as the number of components included in a sample based on the border value (the provisional number of components k) obtained in the above manner. That is to say, when the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, the provisional number of components k at this time is used as the border value, and a value obtained by subtracting one from the border value is determined as the number of components included in the sample.

(21) The concentration distribution display processor 14 displays the concentration distribution of the components discriminated by the component discrimination processor 12 as a chemical image on the display section 4. Concretely, the concentration matrix C.sub.k obtained by the multivariate curve resolution is read from the multivariate curve resolution result storage section 5, and concentration of the respective components at the measurement points on the sample surface is displayed as image data on the display section 4. The concentration distribution of the components is displayed as the chemical image in such a manner so that the analyzed result can be displayed in a comprehensible way.

(22) FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating one example of the resolution spectral data in a case where the multivariate curve resolution is executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=2. In this example, two pieces of resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution are completely different from each other as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and the components are discriminated as being different in two pieces of the resolution spectral data by the spectral retrieval in the component discrimination processor 12.

(23) When the components are discriminated as being different in two pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, another components might be included in the sample. For this reason, the provisional number of components k is increased by one, and the multivariate curve resolution is again executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=3.

(24) FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one example of the resolution spectral data in a case where the multivariate curve resolution is executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=3. In this example, three pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution are as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, respectively, and the resolution spectral data is similar between FIGS. 3B and 3C.

(25) When the components are discriminated as being matched in the two pieces of the resolution spectral data similar to each other by the spectral retrieval in the component discrimination processor 12, the provisional number of components k can be discriminated as exceeding the actual number of components. In this case, 2 that is a value obtained by subtracting one from the provisional number of components k is determined as the number of components included in the sample.

(26) FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a process to be executed by the control section 1. At the time of an analysis, the measurement data matrix D is first obtained based on spectra detected at the plurality of measurement points on the sample surface (step S101). Thereafter, the provisional number of components k is set to 2 (step S102), and the multivariate curve resolution is executed by using the provisional number of components k (step S103: a multivariate curve resolution executing step).

(27) As a result of the multivariate curve resolution, the concentration matrix C.sub.k and the spectral matrix S.sub.k are obtained so as to be stored in the multivariate curve resolution result storage section 5. Spectral retrieval is performed on the resolution spectral data of the respective components composing the spectra in the columns of the spectral matrix S.sub.k by using the known spectral data in the library stored in the library storage section 6 (step S104: a component discriminating step).

(28) As a result of spectral retrieval, when the components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution (Yes at step S105), the results of the spectral retrieval for the respective components are stored in the spectral retrieval result storage section 7 (step S106), and a determination is made whether the provisional number of components k at that time reaches a predetermined repetition determined value (step S107).

(29) The repetition determined value can be set to any value that is 3 or more. The repetition determined value may be set as a defined value in advance, or the analyst operates the operating section 3 so as to be capable of setting the repetition determined value. Further, for example, the repetition determined value can be also set based on the number of components predicted from a cumulative contribution ratio by performing principal component analysis.

(30) At a time point when the first multivariate curve resolution is executed, the provisional number of components k is 2 and thus does not reach the repetition determined value (No at step S107). For this reason, after the provisional number of components k is increased by one to 3 (step S108), the multivariate curve resolution is again executed (step S103: a multivariate curve resolution executing step). In this embodiment, the provisional number of components k is increased one by one so that the multivariate curve resolution is repeated until the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution (until No at step S105).

(31) During a process of repeating steps S103 to S108, when the provisional number of components k reaches the repetition determined value (Yes at step S107), the execution of the multivariate curve resolution is ended. In this case, the value (k1) obtained by subtracting one from the provisional number of components k at that time is determined as the number of components included in the sample (step S113: a component number determining step), and the concentration distribution of the components is displayed as an analyzed result on the display section 4 in a form of a chemical image (step S114: a concentration distribution display step). When the provisional number of components k reaches the repetition determined value and the execution of the multivariate curve resolution is ended, this state may be displayed on the display section 4.

(32) When the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution with the provisional number of components k not reaching the repetition determined value (No at step S105), a determination is made whether the provisional number of components k at that time is 2 (step S109).

(33) When the provisional number of components k is not 2 (No at step S109), the value (k1) obtained by subtracting one from the provisional number of components k at that time is determined as the number of components included in the sample (step S113: the component number determining step). As the analyzed result, the concentration distribution of the components is displayed as a chemical image on the display section 4 (step S114: the concentration distribution display step).

(34) On the other hand, when the provisional number of components k is 2 (Yes at step S109), namely, when the provisional number of components k is still an initial value, the multivariate curve resolution is performed with the number of components being 1 (step S110). A concentration matrix C.sub.1 and a spectral matrix S.sub.1 obtained as the result are stored in the multivariate curve resolution result storage section 5. Spectral retrieval is performed on the resolution spectral data of one component composing a spectrum in the spectral matrix S.sub.1 by using respective pieces of known spectral data in the library stored in the library storage section 6 (step S111).

(35) A result of the spectral retrieval is stored in the spectral retrieval result storage section 7 (step S112). At this time, since the provisional number of components k is 2, 1 obtained by subtracting one from the provisional number of components k is determined as the number of components included in the sample (step S113: the component number determining step). As the analyzed result, the concentration distribution of the component is displayed as a chemical image on the display section 4 (step S114: the concentration distribution display step).

(36) The present invention is not limited to the constitution where the concentration distribution (chemical image) of the components is displayed on the display section 4 during a series of process including the multivariate curve resolution, and thus may have a constitution where the concentration distribution of the components may be displayed on the display section 4 in response to the operation of the operating section 3 performed by the analyst.

(37) In this embodiment, components are discriminated based on the respective pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution using the provisional number of components k, and the number of components included in the sample can be determined based on the discriminated result. At this time, the multivariate curve resolution is repeated until a border value between a provisional number of components discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution and a provisional number of components discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in the respective pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution is obtained. As a result, the number of components included in the sample can be discriminated more accurately and easily based on the border value.

(38) Particularly, in this embodiment, when the components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, the number of components included in the sample can be discriminated more accurately and easily based on the border value (the provisional number of components k) that is obtained by increasing the provisional number of components k one by one and repeating the multivariate curve resolution until the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution.

(39) Further, in this embodiment, when the provisional number of components k reaches the predetermined repetition determined value, the execution of the multivariate curve resolution is ended. As a result, since unexpected repetition of the multivariate curve resolution caused by a noise component can be prevented, the analysis time can be shortened.

(40) Further, components are discriminated by using the library of the spectral data of the known components (known spectral data), so that the discrimination of the number of components included in the sample and the identification of the components included in the sample can be made simultaneously, and thus the sample can be analyzed efficiently.

(41) FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a process to be executed by the control section 1 of the automatic analysis apparatus according to another embodiment. This embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that the components included in the sample are not discriminated (identified) by the spectral retrieval using the library of the known spectral data but are discriminated (distinguished) by comparing all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution.

(42) At the time of an analysis, the measurement data matrix D is first obtained based on spectra detected at a plurality of measurement points on a sample surface (step S201). Thereafter, the provisional number of components k is set to 2 (step S202), and the multivariate curve resolution is executed by using the provisional number of components k (step S203: the multivariate curve resolution executing step).

(43) As a result of the multivariate curve resolution, the concentration matrix C.sub.k and the spectral matrix S.sub.k are obtained so as to be stored in the multivariate curve resolution result storage section 5. Similarity of the resolution spectral data of the respective components composing the spectra in the columns in the spectral matrix S.sub.k is calculated, so that the components are discriminated (step S204: a component discriminating step).

(44) Concretely, the components are discriminated based on whether the similarity of the respective pieces of the resolution spectral data is a predetermined threshold or more. That is to say, when the similarity of the respective pieces of the resolution spectral data is the predetermined threshold or more, the components can be discriminated as being matched. When the similarity of the respective pieces of the resolution spectral data is less than the predetermined threshold, the components can be discriminated as being different from each other.

(45) As a result, when the components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution (Yes at step S205), the determination is made whether the provisional number of components k at that time reaches the predetermined repetition determined value (step S206).

(46) The repetition determined value can be set to any value that is 3 or more. The repetition determined value may be set as a defined value in advance, or the analyst operates the operating section 3 so as to be capable of setting the repetition determined value. Further, for example, the repetition determined value can be also set based on the number of components predicted from a cumulative contribution ratio by performing principal component analysis.

(47) At a time point when the first multivariate curve resolution is executed, the provisional number of components k is 2 and thus does not reach the repetition determined value (No at step S206). For this reason, after the provisional number of components k is increased by one into 3 (step S207), the multivariate curve resolution is again executed (step S203: the multivariate curve resolution executing step). In this embodiment, the provisional number of components k is increased one by one so that the multivariate curve resolution is repeated until the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution (until No at step S205).

(48) During the process for repeating steps S203 to S207, when the provisional number of components k reaches the repetition determined value (Yes at step S206), the execution of the multivariate curve resolution is ended. In this case, the value (k1) obtained by subtracting one from the provisional number of components k at that time is determined as the number of components included in the sample (step S210: the component number determining step), and the concentration distribution of the components is displayed as a chemical image on the display section 4 (step S211: the concentration distribution display step). When the provisional number of components k reaches the repetition determined value and the execution of the multivariate curve resolution is ended, this state may be displayed on the display section 4.

(49) When the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution with the provisional number of components k not reaching the repetition determined value (No at step S205), the determination is made whether the provisional number of components k at that time is 2 (step S208).

(50) When the provisional number of components k is not 2 (No at step S208), the value (k1) obtained by subtracting one from the provisional number of components k at that time is determined as the number of components included in the sample (step S210: the component number determining step). As the analyzed result, the concentration distribution of the components is displayed as a chemical image on the display section 4 (step S211: the concentration distribution display step).

(51) On the other hand, when the provisional number of components k is 2 (Yes at step S208), namely, the provisional number of components k is still an initial value, the multivariate curve resolution is executed with the number of components being 1 (step S209). At this time, since the provisional number of components k is 2, 1 obtained by subtracting one from the provisional number of components k is determined as the number of components included in the sample (step S210: the component number determining step). As the analyzed result, the concentration distribution of the component is displayed as a chemical image on the display section 4 (step S211: the concentration distribution display step).

(52) The present invention is not limited to the constitution where the concentration distribution (chemical image) of the components is displayed on the display section 4 during a series of process including the multivariate curve resolution, and thus may have a constitution where the concentration distribution of the components may be displayed on the display section 4 in response to the operation of the operating section 3 performed by the analyst. Further, the components included in the sample may be additionally identified based on the spectral matrix S.sub.k obtained by the multivariate curve resolution.

(53) In this embodiment, the components are discriminated based on whether the similarity of the respective pieces of the resolution spectral data is the predetermined threshold or more, so that the number of components included in the sample can be discriminated for a short time.

(54) An embodiment where the number of components is discriminated by spectral retrieval using a sample in which two components including lactose and folic acid are mixed is described below. In this embodiment, the numbers of measurement points on a sample surface are 441 (21 rows21 columns).

(55) FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the resolution spectral data in a case where the multivariate curve resolution is executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=2 in the embodiment of the present invention. As a result of the spectral retrieval, the discrimination is made as lactose in resolution spectral data in FIG. 6A. On the other hand, the discrimination is made as folic acid in the resolution spectral data in FIG. 6B as the result of the spectral retrieval.

(56) When the components are discriminated as being different in two pieces of resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution, another components might be included in the sample. For this reason, the provisional number of components k is increased by one, and the multivariate curve resolution is again executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=3.

(57) FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the resolution spectral data in a case where the multivariate curve resolution is executed in a state that the provisional number of components k=3 in the embodiment of the present invention. The components are discriminated as lactose as a result of the spectral retrieval in both the resolution spectral data in FIGS. 7A and 7B. On the other hand, the components are discriminated as folic acid as a result of the spectral retrieval in the resolution spectral data in FIG. 7C.

(58) When the resolution spectral data in which the components are discriminated as being matched (lactose) through spectral retrieval is present, the provisional number of components k can be discriminated as exceeding the actual number of components. In this case, 2 that is obtained by subtracting 1 from the provisional number of components k is determined as the number of components included in the sample. This value is matched with the actual number of components included in the sample, and it is confirmed that the number of components included in the sample can be discriminated accurately.

(59) This embodiment has described the constitution where the initial value of the provisional number of components k is set to 2 so that the multivariate curve resolution is executed. However, the initial value of the provisional number of components k is not limited to 2, and can be set to any value. In this case, the constitution may be such that the analyst can set the initial value of the provisional number of components k to any value.

(60) Further, the present invention is not limited to the constitution where the provisional number of components k is increased one by one and the multivariate curve resolution is repeated, and the present invention may have, for example, a constitution where the provisional number of components k is decreased one by one and the multivariate curve resolution is repeated. That is to say, any other modes can be employed as a concrete mode as long as the multivariate curve resolution is repeated until the border value between the provisional number of components k in a case where the components are discriminated as being different in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution and the provisional number of components k in a case where the components are discriminated as being matched in at least two pieces of the resolution spectral data in all the pieces of the resolution spectral data obtained by the multivariate curve resolution is obtained.

(61) Further, a program for making a computer to operate (the program for the automatic analysis apparatus) as the above-described automatic analysis device can be provided. In this case, the program may be structured so as to be provided in a form of a storage medium including the program, or the program itself may be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(62) 1 control section

(63) 2 data input section

(64) 3 operating section

(65) 4 display section

(66) 5 multivariate curve resolution result storage section

(67) 6 library storage section

(68) 7 spectral retrieval result storage section

(69) 11 multivariate curve resolution execution processor

(70) 12 component discrimination processor

(71) 13 component number determination processor

(72) 14 concentration distribution display processor