Automated system for storing, retrieving and managing samples

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10697987-B2
Application number	US-201715647091-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2017
Priority date	Jan 23, 2006
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

An automated storage system for storing large quantities of samples in trays includes a storage compartment, a tray shuttle compartment abutting the storage compartment on one side and a plurality of independent modules on the other side. The modules perform processing of samples that are retrieved from the storage compartment by a tray shuttle, including extraction of selected samples from retrieved source trays and transfer of the selected samples into a separate, destination tray that can be further processed or removed from the system for use. The independent operation of the modules permits handling and processing to be performed simultaneously by different modules while the tray shuttle accesses additional samples within the storage compartment. In one embodiment, a vertical carousel is used to vertically align a desired tray with the tray shuttle, while the tray shuttle operates within a horizontal plane.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method storing a plurality of samples in a plurality of trays, the method comprising:
providing a cold storage compartment having a plurality of vertical tray support racks, where the storage compartment has an access side;
providing a tray shuttle compartment having a first side and sealed second side wall opposite the first side, where the first side is adjacent the storage compartment access side and the tray shuttle compartment is sized and shaped so that each tray support rack of the cold storage compartment is independently accessed by a tray shuttle in the tray shuttle compartment passing through the first side at each independent access of each tray support rack;
accessing, from at least one removable module disposed exterior to and abutting the sealed second side wall of the tray shuttle compartment with the tray shuttle disposed within the tray shuttle compartment, a tray of interest through a small selectably sealed opening, of the sealed second side wall, having a size and shape based on the size and shape of a single one of the tray shuttle so that gaps between the small selectably sealed opening and the single one of the tray shuttle, surrounding the single one of the tray shuttle with the single one of the tray shuttle protruding through the opening are minimum gaps, which small selectably sealed opening is sealed for removal of the at least one removable module;
transferring a tray for storage, with an input-output module of the at least one removable module, to or from the cold storage compartment; and
directing operation of the cold storage compartment, the tray shuttle and the input-output module with a system controller.

2. A method for storing a plurality of samples in a plurality of trays, the method comprising:
providing a first compartment housing;
providing a first cold storage compartment disposed within the first compartment housing and having a plurality of vertical tray support racks, the first cold storage compartment having an access side;
providing a first tray shuttle compartment disposed within the first compartment housing and having a first side and a sealed second side wall opposite the first side, the first side being adjacent the first cold storage compartment access side and spanning the first tray shuttle compartment so the first side covers each of the plurality of vertical tray support racks;
accessing at least one module disposed exterior to and abutting the sealed second side wall of the first tray shuttle compartment and the first cold storage compartment, with a tray shuttle disposed within the first tray shuttle compartment, for transferring a tray of interest to and from each tray support rack of the first cold storage compartment and the at least one module, where the first tray shuttle compartment is sized and shaped so that each tray support rack of the first cold storage compartment is independently accessed by the tray shuttle in the first tray shuttle compartment passing through the first side at each independent access of each tray support rack;
transferring a tray for storage to or from the first cold storage compartment with an input-output module of the at least one module;
providing a second cold storage compartment exterior to and configured for selectable connection to the first compartment housing, the selectable connection capable of being effected with the first cold storage compartment maintained at a predetermined cold temperature for sample tray storage;
accessing a transfer module, connected to the first compartment housing and coupling the second cold storage compartment to the first cold storage compartment, for transferring the tray of interest retrieved from the first cold storage compartment to the second cold storage compartment for storage in the second cold storage compartment exterior to the first compartment housing; and
directing operation of the first cold storage compartment, the tray shuttle and the input-output module with a system controller, and directing operation, with the system controller, of the second cold storage compartment and the transfer module when the second cold storage compartment is connected to the first compartment housing.

3. A method for storing a plurality of samples in a plurality of trays, the method comprising:
providing a cold storage compartment having a plurality of vertical tray support racks, a storage compartment front, and a width;
providing a tray shuttle compartment having a rear adjacent the storage compartment front and a tray shuttle compartment front wall, where the front wall is sealed and each tray support rack of the cold storage compartment is independently accessed by a tray shuttle in the tray shuttle compartment passing through the rear at each independent access of each tray support rack;
accessing at least one removable module disposed exterior to and abutting the sealed front wall of the tray shuttle compartment and each vertical tray support rack of the cold storage compartment, with a tray shuttle disposed within the tray shuttle compartment, for transferring a tray of interest to the at least one module through a small selectably sealed opening of the front wall, which small selectably sealed opening is has a size and shape based on a size and shape of a single one of the tray shuttle so that gaps between the small selectably sealed opening and the single one of the tray shuttle, surrounding the single one of the tray shuttle with the single one of the tray shuttle protruding through the opening are minimum gaps, and which small selectably sealed opening is sealed for removal of the at least one removable module;
receiving a tray for storage in the storage compartment or removing a tray from the storage compartment with an input-output module of the at least one removable module; and
directing operation of the storage compartment, the tray shuttle and the input-output module with a system controller.

Assignees

• Brooks Automation Inc

Inventors

• Neeper Robert K
• Affleck Rhett L
• Lillig John E

Classifications

• B65G1/127 Primary

  the circuit being confined in a vertical plane · CPC title

• B65G1/0435

  with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area · CPC title

• G01N2035/0403

  Sample carriers with closing or sealing means · CPC title

• G01N2035/00316

  Detecting door closure · CPC title

• Y10T436/114165

  with step of insertion or removal from test line · CPC title