Automated transfer mechanism for microbial detection apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015368606-A1
Application number	US-201514842127-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 1, 2015
Priority date	May 14, 2010
Publication date	Dec 24, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and automated transfer means for transferring a container within an apparatus. The apparatus of the present invention may include a means for automated loading, a means for automated transfer and/or a means for automated unloading of a container (e.g., a specimen container). In one embodiment, the apparatus can be an automated detection apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of a microbial agent in a test sample. The detection system also including a heated enclosure, a holding means or rack, and/or a detection unit for monitoring and/or interrogating the specimen container to detect whether the container is positive for the presence of a microbial agent. In other embodiment, the automated instrument may include one or more, bar code readers, scanners, cameras, and/or weighing stations to aid in scanning, reading, imaging and weighing of specimen containers within the system.

First claim

1 . A detection apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of microorganism growth in a specimen sample, comprising:
(a) a housing enclosing an interior chamber therein, said housing further comprising an entrance location therein for receiving a specimen container; (b) a holding structure contained within said housing and comprising a plurality of wells for holding one or more of said specimen containers; (c) a detection unit located within said interior chamber for the detection of microorganism growth in said specimen container; (d) a container locator device comprising a plurality of wells and operable to move said specimen container to one or more work-flow stations for obtaining one or more measurements or readings of the specimen container; and (e) a multi-axis robotic transfer arm within said housing for automated transfer of said specimen container from a well of said container locator device to said holding structure, wherein said multi-axis robotic transfer arm comprises at least one horizontal support rail and a vertical support rail, wherein said vertical support rail is supported by said at least one horizontal support rail, and wherein said vertical support rail is capable of moving along said horizontal support rails in a first horizontal axis.

2 . The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said interior chamber comprises an incubation chamber, said incubation chamber comprising one or more heating elements to provide and/or maintain a climate-controlled interior chamber for promoting and/or enhancing microorganism growth therein.

3 . The detection system of claim 1 , wherein said holding means further comprises an agitation assembly for agitating said specimen container to promote and/or enhance microorganism growth therein.

4 . The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said multi-axis robotic transfer arm further comprises two horizontal support rails and a vertical support rail, wherein said vertical support rail is supported by said horizontal support rails, and wherein said vertical support rail is capable of moving along said horizontal support rails in a first horizontal axis.

5 . The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said multi-axis robotic transfer arm further comprises a robotic head and gripper means, and wherein said robotic head is supported by said vertical support rail, and wherein said robotic head and gripper means is capable of moving along said vertical support rail in a vertical axis.

6 . The detection apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said multi-axis robotic transfer arm further comprises a horizontal slide rail in a second horizontal axis, and wherein said robotic head and gripper means is supported on said horizontal slide rail, and wherein said robotic head and gripper means is capable of moving along said horizontal slide rail in said second horizontal axis.

7 . The detection apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said horizontal slide further comprises a pivot plate and a pivot slot, wherein said robotic head is coupled to said pivot plate and said pivot plate is orientated in a horizontal plane, and wherein said pivot slot comprises a slot contained within said pivot plate, and wherein said pivot plate further comprises a pivot slot cam follower said cam follower operable to move from a first position in said pivot slot to a second position in said pivot slot and thereby pivoting said pivot plate and said robotic head about a horizontal axis, thereby pivoting said robotic head about said horizontal axis.

8 . The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said automated transfer mechanism comprises a gripping mechanism to pick-up, grip or otherwise hold said specimen container.

9 . The detection apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said gripping mechanism comprises two or more gripping fingers to pick-up, grip or otherwise hold said specimen container.

10 . The detection apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said gripping mechanism comprises a linear actuator a linear actuator motor, and wherein said actuator motor operated to move said linear actuator to open and close said gripper fingers.

11 . A detection apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of microorganism growth in a specimen sample, comprising:
(a) a housing enclosing an interior chamber therein, said housing further comprising an entrance location therein for receiving a specimen container; (b) a holding structure contained within said housing and comprising a plurality of wells for holding one or more of said specimen containers; (c) a detection unit located within said interior chamber for the detection of microorganism growth in said specimen container; (d) a container locator device comprising a plurality of wells and operable to move said specimen container to one or more work-flow stations for obtaining one or more measurements or readings of the specimen container; and (e) a multi-axis robotic transfer arm within said housing for automated transfer of said specimen container from a well of said container locator device to said holding structure, wherein said multi-axis robotic transfer arm comprises a horizontal slide rail in a first horizontal axis, and wherein said robotic head and gripper means is supported on said horizontal slide rail, and wherein said robotic head and gripper means is capable of moving along said horizontal slide rail in said first horizontal axis.

12 . The detection apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said interior chamber comprises an incubation chamber, said incubation chamber comprising one or more heating elements to provide and/or maintain a climate-controlled interior chamber for promoting and/or enhancing microorganism growth therein.

13 . The detection system of claim 11 , wherein said holding means further comprises an agitation assembly for agitating said specimen container to promote and/or enhance microorganism growth therein.

14 . The detection apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said horizontal slide further comprises a pivot plate and a pivot slot, wherein said robotic head is coupled to said pivot plate and said pivot plate is orientated in a horizontal plane, and wherein said pivot slot comprises a slot contained within said pivot plate, and wherein said pivot plate further comprises a pivot slot cam follower said cam follower operable to move from a first position in said pivot slot to a second position in said pivot slot and thereby pivoting said pivot plate and said robotic head about a horizontal axis, thereby pivoting said robotic head about said horizontal axis.

15 . The detection apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said multi-axis robotic transfer arm further comprises two horizontal support rails and a vertical support rail, wherein said vertical support rail is supported by said horizontal support rails, and wherein said vertical support rail is capable of moving along said horizontal support rails in a first horizontal axis.

16 . The detection apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said multi-axis robotic transfer arm further comprises a robotic head and gripper means, and wherein said robotic head is supported by said vertical support rail, and wherein said robotic head and gripper means is capable of moving along said vertical support rail in a vertical axis.

17 . The detection apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said automated transfer mechanism comprises a gripping mechanism to pick-up, grip or otherwise hold said specimen container.

18 . The detection apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said gripping mechanism comprises two or more gripping fingers to pick-up, grip or otherwise hold said specimen container.

Assignees

• Bio Merieux Inc

Inventors

• Bishop James Clement
• Fanning Mark Joseph
• Guerra Lawrence E

Classifications

• G01N35/04

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

• C12M41/36 Primary

  of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements (electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404) · CPC title

• G01N2035/00356

  Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation) · CPC title

• G01N35/0099

  comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J) · CPC title

• G01N2035/0465

  Loading or unloading the conveyor · CPC title