Transport device, sample distribution system and laboratory automation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9791468-B2
Application number	US-201514665411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A transport device for receiving a sample container and for transporting the sample container on a transport surface, the transport device being capable of being moved magnetically over the transport surface and, further, having a cooling device is presented. A sample distribution system comprising such a transport device and to a laboratory automation system is also presented.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A laboratory automation system, the laboratory automation system comprising:
a plurality of pre-analytic, analytic and/or post-analytic stations to process sample containers and/or samples being contained in the sample containers; and
a sample distribution system to distribute the sample containers between the pre-analytic, analytic and/or post-analytic stations, the sample distribution system comprising,
a plurality of transport devices, wherein each transport device is configured to receive a sample container and to transport the received sample container between the pre-analytic, analytic and/or post-analytic stations, each transport device comprising,
at least one magnetically active element to interact with a magnetic field generated by at least one electromagnetic actuator, and
a cooling device configured to cool a sample container received by the transport device,
a transport surface configured to carry the plurality of transport devices,
a plurality of electromagnetic actuators arranged under the transport surface, wherein the electromagnetic actuators are configured to move a transport device arranged on the transport surface by applying a magnetic force to the transport device; and
a control device configured to activate the electromagnetic actuators such that a transport device moves along a predeterminable movement path on the transport surface, wherein the control device of the sample distribution system is configured to determine a waiting time until a respective sample container and/or a sample contained in the respective sample container can be treated by a station, wherein the cooling device is configured to cool the sample container if the waiting time exceeds a threshold value.

2. The laboratory automation system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling device comprises a container for receiving a substance.

3. The laboratory automation system according to claim 2 , wherein the substance, upon reaction, is configured to absorb heat and cool the sample container.

4. The laboratory automation system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling device has a latent-heat store.

5. The laboratory automation system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling device has a container for receiving a cryogenic liquid.

6. The laboratory automation system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling device has a Peltier element and an associated energy supply unit.

7. The laboratory automation system according to claim 6 , wherein the energy supply unit has an energy absorption unit which is designed to absorb energy transmitted wirelessly.

8. The laboratory automation system according to claim 1 , further comprises, a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the received sample container and/or measure a temperature of a sample contained in the received sample container.

9. The laboratory automation system according to claim 8 , further comprises, a data transmitter to wirelessly transmit the measured temperature to a control device of a sample distribution system.

10. The laboratory automation system according to claim 1 , further comprises, a cooling chamber to receive transport devices and to cool the received transport devices and/or the cooling devices contained in the received transport devices.

11. The laboratory automation system according to claim 1 , further comprises, an energy transmission unit to transmit energy to a transport device wirelessly.

12. The laboratory automation system according to claim 1 , further comprises a data transmitter to wirelessly receive measured temperatures from the transport devices.

13. The laboratory automation system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling device of a transport device is configured to cool the sample container if the received measured temperature exceeds a threshold value.

Assignees

• Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc

Inventors

• Riether Christian
• Sinz Achim

Classifications

• G01N35/04 Primary

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

• G01N2035/00445

  Other cooling arrangements · CPC title

• G01K13/12

  combined with sampling devices for measuring temperatures of samples of materials · CPC title

• G01N35/10 Primary

  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

• G01N2035/0477

  Magnetic · CPC title