Automated sample preparation system for diagnostic testing of same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11181541-B2
Application number	US-201716077875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2017
Priority date	Feb 17, 2016
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

An automated pre-analytical processing method and an apparatus for pre-analytical processing of samples to be forwarded to an adjacent analyzer for analysis. Rack label information is read and communicated to a processor. From the rack label information, the processor determines where to route the rack. The pre-analytical system has a rack robot that conveys racks to discrete locations depending upon the routing information assigned to the rack by the processor. The pre-analytical system has an automated station that reads the labels of individual sample containers in the rack that are brought to the automated station on instructions from the processor. Depending on the type of sample container and the type of sample disposed therein, the samples are either prepared for analysis by the automated station or the sample containers are directly passed through the automated station. Prepared samples and passed through samples are passed individually to a batching rack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automated pre-analytical sample preparation module comprising:
an enclosure;
a port in the enclosure, the port configured to receive a rack;
a rack label reader configured to read a rack label, wherein information obtained from the rack label about rack contents is received by a processor in the automated pre-analytical sample preparation module;
a rack elevator robot system comprising a rack elevator robot configured to move the rack received by the port to one of a plurality of locations in the enclosure of the automated pre-analytical sample preparation module;
the rack elevator robot system configured to deliver racks to and carry racks from first and second processing decks, wherein the first and second processing decks are separated to allow the rack elevator robot system to access first and second decks;
a rack storage unit having a plurality of compartments, wherein the rack elevator robot is configured to place racks into and remove racks from the compartments in the rack storage unit;
the first processing deck comprising:
a plurality of rack receiving areas, wherein the plurality of rack receiving areas are located adjacent an automated secondary sample preparation station, the secondary sample preparation station comprising:
a first rack receiving area for receiving racks carrying containers of a first type;
a second rack receiving area for receiving racks carrying containers of a second type;
a primary container receiving station for receiving containers of a plurality of sizes;
a secondary container receiving station for receiving containers of a type that is the same or different from the type of container received by the primary container receiving station;
a diluent dispenser; and
a container label reader for reading a label on a sample container, the container label reader in communication with a processor that assigns at least pre-analytical processing instructions for the sample in the container based on information obtained from the container label and associates the at least pre-analytical processing instructions with the information obtained from the container label;

the second processing deck comprising:
a plurality of rack receiving areas;
a batch accumulation area; and
a shuttle handling assembly, the shuttle handling assembly comprising:
one or more shuttle racks for supporting a plurality of shuttles, wherein shuttles are adapted to receive a plurality of containers therein; and
a transfer arm that engages a shuttle disposed on the one or more shuttle racks and places the shuttle onto a conveyor;

the system further comprising a suspended robot assembly comprising:
at least one pick and place robot;
at least one pipettor robot; and
at least one decapper robot;

wherein the robots of the suspended robot assembly are suspended above the first and second processing decks and travel laterally along a support beam proximately parallel to the first and second processing decks, and wherein the pick and place robot can retrieve the containers from and place the containers into racks placed on the first and second processing decks, the primary and secondary container receiving stations, the batch accumulation area and the shuttles.

2. The automated pre-analytical sample preparation module of claim 1 , wherein a conveyer is adapted to convey a shuttle to at least one adjacent analyzer.

3. The automated pre-analytical sample preparation module of claim 2 , wherein the assigned pre-analytical processing instructions causes the samples prepared by the system to be grouped into a batch.

4. The automated pre-analytical sample preparation module of claim 3 , wherein a batch of prepared samples is populated into a shuttle by the at least one pick and place robot.

5. The automated pre-analytical sample preparation module of claim 3 , wherein the conveyer is adapted to convey a shuttle to one of a plurality of analyzers.

6. An automated pre-analytical processing module comprising:
a rack elevator robot system comprising a rack elevator robot configured to move a rack received through a port in the automated pre-analytical processing module to one of a plurality of locations in an enclosure of the automated pre-analytical processing module;
the rack elevator robot system configured to deliver racks to and carry racks from first and second processing decks, wherein the first and second processing decks are separated to allow the rack elevator robot system to access first and second decks;
a rack storage unit having a plurality of compartments, wherein the rack elevator robot is configured to place racks into and remove racks from the compartments in the rack storage unit;
the second processing deck comprising:
a plurality of rack receiving areas;
a batch accumulation area; and
a shuttle handling assembly, the shuttle handling assembly comprising:
one or more shuttle racks for supporting a plurality of shuttles, wherein shuttles are adapted to receive a plurality of containers therein; and
a transfer arm that engages a shuttle disposed on the one or more shuttle racks and places the shuttle onto a conveyor.

7. The automated pre-analytical processing module of claim 6 , wherein the first processing deck comprises:
a plurality of rack receiving areas, wherein the plurality of rack receiving areas are located adjacent an automated secondary sample preparation station, the secondary sample preparation station comprising:
a first rack receiving area for receiving racks carrying containers of a first type;
a second rack receiving area for receiving racks carrying containers of a second type;
a primary container receiving station for receiving containers of a plurality of sizes;
a secondary container receiving station for receiving containers of a type that is the same or different from the type of container received by the primary container receiving station;
a diluent dispenser; and
a reader for reading a label on a sample container, the reader being in communication with a processor that assigns at least pre-analytical processing instructions for the sample in the container based on information obtained from the container label and associates the at least pre-analytical processing instructions with the information obtained from the container label.

8. An automated pre-analytical processing module comprising:
a rack elevator robot system comprising a rack elevator robot configured to move a rack received through a port in the automated pre-analytical processing module to one of a plurality of locations in an enclosure of the automated pre-analytical processing module;
the rack elevator robot system configured to deliver racks to and carry racks from first and second processing decks, wherein the first and second processing decks are separated to allow the rack elevator robot system to access first and second decks;
a rack storage unit having a plurality of compartments, wherein the rack elevator robot is configured to place racks into and remove racks from the compartments in the rack storage unit;
a suspended robot assembly, the suspended robot assembly comprising:
at least one pick and place robot;
at least one pipettor robot; and
at least one decapper robot;

wherein the robots of the suspended robot assembly are suspended above the first and second processing decks and travel laterally along a support beam proximately parallel to the first and second processing decks, and wherein the pick and place robot can retrieve containers from and place containers into racks placed on the first and second processing decks, primary and secondary container receiving stations, a batch accumulation area and shuttles.

9. The automated pre-analytical pro

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Vansickler Michael T
• Bailey Kevin
• Tesluk Christopher John
• Livingston Dwight
• Rotundo Steven C
• Lachance Stephen Robert
• Touma Michael J
• Mckeen Brian James
• Sevigny Gerard

Classifications

• G01N35/04 Primary

  Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G16H10/40

  for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis · CPC title

• G01N35/00732

  Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers · CPC title

• G01N2035/00801

  Holders for sample carriers, e.g. trays, caroussel, racks · CPC title

• G01N2035/1032

  Dilution or aliquotting · CPC title