Device for taking samples from containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9572749-B2
Application number	US-201514616588-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2015
Priority date	Feb 7, 2014
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

A device for taking samples from containers includes: a receiving body for at least one container; a container bar code reader positioned in the receiving body for containers; a support for a test tube with the ability to move; a bar code reader positioned in the support; and a fluid communication component between the container and the test tube. The support for test tubes includes at least a test tube loading position and a sample-taking position. The device also includes a controller configured to control position of the support for test tube. The controller can also include at least one sensor of the position of the support for test tube and a blocking component configured to block a position of said support for test tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for taking samples from containers, the device comprises:
a container for containing a substance, the container having a first bar code thereon;
a body holding the container;
a first bar code reader facing the container and configured to read the first bar code of the container;
a cannula capable of being connected to and disconnected from the container;
a housing holding the cannula connected to the container;
a linear guide fixed to the housing;
a test tube for receiving the substance from the container, the test tube having a second bar code thereon;
a support configured to move along the linear guide and holding the test tube, wherein the support is configured to move between a first position and a second position that is closer to the housing than the first position such that the test tube is separated from the cannula at the first position and the test tube is connected with the container via the cannula at the second position;
a second bar code reader facing the test tube and configured to read the second bar code of the test tube; and
a blocking component placed at a point of the linear guide between two points corresponding to the first and second positions of the support, wherein the blocking component is configured to block movement of the support between the first position and the second position when the first bar code does not match to the second bar code.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is further configured to correlate the second bar code of the test tube with the first bar code of the container.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a first position sensor configured to detect presence of the support at a first control point of the linear guide and a second position sensor configured to detect presence of the support at a second control point of the linear guide.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the test tube extends in a first direction relative to the support, and the support is configured to move along the linear guide in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the test tube is a vacuum test tube.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cannula comprises a puncturing component configured to puncture the test tube when the support is at the second position.

7. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to actuate or de-actuate the said blocking components.

8. A method for taking sample using the device of claim 7 , the method comprising:
reading, by the first bar code reader, the first bar code on the container;
reading, by the second bar code reader, the second bar code on the test tube container that is held by the support; and
determining, by the controller, whether the first bar code matches the second barcode,
wherein if it is determined that the first bar code does not match the second bar code, the controller actuates the blocking component to restrict movement of the support, such that the test tube is not connected to the container via the cannula,
wherein if it is determined that the first bar code matches the second bar code, the controller de-actuates the blocking component to allow movement of the support, such that the test tube can be connected to the container via the cannula.

Assignees

• Grifols Worldwide Operations Ltd

Inventors

• Roura Fernandez Carlos
• Garcia Sanchez Manuel
• Fleta Coit Daniel

Classifications

• G01N35/1011

  Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device · CPC title

• B65C3/105

  the machine being hand- or foot driven · CPC title

• G01N2035/00861

  printing and sticking of identifiers · CPC title

• B01L9/06

  Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders · CPC title

• B01L2300/021

  Identification, e.g. bar codes · CPC title