Automated diagnostic analyzers having rear accessible track systems and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9335338-B2
Application number	US-201414213048-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

Example apparatus and methods related to automated diagnostic analyzers having rear accessible track systems. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an analyzer to perform a diagnostic test, the analyzer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The example apparatus includes a loading bay disposed on the first side of the analyzer to receive a first carrier and a pipetting mechanism coupled to the analyzer adjacent the second side. The example apparatus also includes a first carrier shuttle to transport the first carrier from a first location adjacent the loading bay to a second location adjacent the pipetting mechanism and a track disposed adjacent the second side of the analyzer to transfer a second carrier to a third location adjacent the pipetting mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an analyzer to perform a diagnostic test, the analyzer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
a loading bay disposed on the first side of the analyzer to receive a first carrier;
a pipetting mechanism coupled to the analyzer adjacent the second side;
a first carrier shuttle to transport the first carrier from a first location adjacent the loading bay to a second location adjacent the pipetting mechanism; and
a track disposed adjacent the second side of the analyzer to transfer a second carrier to a third location adjacent the pipetting mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second carrier shuttle, wherein the loading bay is to receive a third carrier and the second carrier shuttle is to transport the third carrier from the first location adjacent the loading bay to the second location adjacent the pipetting mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first carrier shuttle and the second carrier shuttle are independently movable.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a positioner to transport the first carrier from a slot in the loading bay to the first carrier shuttle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the positioner is to transport the third carrier from a slot in the loading bay to the second carrier shuttle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first carrier shuttle comprises a lead screw.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first carrier shuttle comprises a conveyor belt.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first carrier shuttle is to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the track.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the track comprises a spur to transport the second carrier to or from the third location.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a motor to operate the first carrier shuttle, wherein the motor is disposed at one of the first location or the second location.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a sensor to detect movement in the first carrier shuttle, wherein the sensor is disposed at the other of the first location or the second location, opposite the motor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the analyzer comprises a rotatable plate having a plurality of reaction vessels, and wherein the pipetting mechanism is to dispense liquid into one or more of the reaction vessels.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the pipetting mechanism is to follow a first protocol of liquid transfer between at least one of the second location or the third location and the reaction vessels.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first protocol is to be suspended, the first carrier shuttle or a second carrier is shuttle to transport a third carrier from the loading bay to the second location, and the pipetting mechanism is to transfer liquid between the third carrier and at least one of the reaction vessels.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pipetting mechanism is to at least one of dispense or aspirate a sample from the second location and the third location.

16. A method comprising:
transporting a first carrier from a first side of an analyzer having a loading bay to a second side of the analyzer opposite the first side;
aspirating a first liquid from the first carrier using a pipetting mechanism disposed adjacent the second side of the analyzer;
dispensing the first liquid, via the pipetting mechanism, into a first vessel on the analyzer;
transporting a second carrier along a track to a position adjacent the pipetting mechanism, the track disposed along the second side of the analyzer;
aspirating a second liquid from the second carrier using the pipetting mechanism; and
dispensing the second liquid, via the pipetting mechanism, into a second vessel on the analyzer.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first carrier is transported to the second side of the analyzer via a first carrier shuttle.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising transporting a third carrier from the first side of the analyzer to the second side of the analyzer.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
aspirating a third liquid from the third carrier using the pipetting mechanism; and
dispensing the third liquid, via the pipetting mechanism, into a third vessel on the analyzer.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the third carrier is transported to the second side of the analyzer via a second carrier shuttle.

21. The method of the claim 20 , wherein the first carrier shuttle and the second carrier shuttle operate independently of each other.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein one or more of the first carrier shuttle or the second carrier shuttle is a track comprising a lead screw.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein one or more of the first carrier shuttle or the second carrier shuttle is a track comprising a conveyor belt.

24. The method of claim 18 , wherein one or more of the first carrier, the second carrier or the third carrier comprises at least one test sample tube.

25. The method of claim 17 further comprising transporting the first carrier from the loading bay on the first side of the analyzer to the first carrier shuttle.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the first carrier is transported from the loading bay to the first carrier shuttle via a positioner.

27. A system comprising:
a first analyzer to perform a first diagnostic test, the first analyzer comprising:
a first proximal side and a first distal side opposite the first proximal side;
a first pipetting mechanism adjacent the first distal side;
a first loading bay disposed on the first proximal side to receive a first carrier; and
a first carrier shuttle to transport the first carrier from a first location adjacent the first proximal side to a second location adjacent the first pipetting mechanism;

a second analyzer disposed adjacent the first analyzer, the second analyzer to perform a second diagnostic test, the second analyzer comprising:
a second proximal side and a second distal side opposite the second proximal side;
a second pipetting mechanism adjacent the second distal side;
a second loading bay disposed on the second proximal side to receive a second carrier; and
a second carrier shuttle to transport the second carrier from a third location adjacent the second proximal side of the second analyzer to a fourth location adjacent the second pipetting mechanism; and

a track disposed along the first distal side and the second distal side, the track comprising a first sidetrack to transfer a third carrier to a fifth location adjacent the first pipetting mechanism.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the track further comprises a second sidetrack to transfer the third carrier to a sixth location adjacent the second pipetting mechanism.

29. The system of claim 27 , wherein the first carrier shuttle and the second carrier shuttle are substantially parallel.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the first carrier shuttle is substantially perpendicular to the track.

31. The system of claim 27 , wherein the first diagnostic test is an immunoassay and the second diagnostic test is a clinical chemistry assay.

32. The system of claim 27 , wherein the first diagnostic test is an immunoassay and the second dia

Assignees

• Abbott Lab
• Toshiba Medical Sys Corp

Inventors

• Ochranek Brian L
• Arnquist David C
• Oonuma Takehiko
• Tahara Hirotoshi
• Sato Naoto
• Smith Bradley P

Classifications

• G01N35/02

  using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations {(G01N35/0098 and G01N35/0099 take precedence)} · CPC title

• Y10T436/113332

  with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack · CPC title

• G01N35/04 Primary

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

• Y10T436/11

  Automated chemical analysis · CPC title

• G01N35/10

  Devices for transferring samples {or any liquids} to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices {(G01N35/0099 takes precedence)} · CPC title