Sample distribution system and laboratory automation system

• US 10,012,666 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Riether, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley, Sean E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krcha, Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US14/665,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20150276782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00445 Other cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0406 Individual bottles or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0462 Buffers [FIFO] or stacks [LIFO] for holding carriers between operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0477 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/02 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 Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1081 characterised by the means for relatively moving the transfer device and the containers in an horizontal plane G01N35/1011 takes precedence

Abstract

A sample distribution system having a transport surface on which sample container carriers can be moved is presented. The sample distribution system has ambient-condition influencing device in order to influence ambient conditions over a sub-region of the transport surface in such a way that samples can be kept there for a certain time without impairment.

Claims

1. A sample distribution system for distributing sample containers between pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analytical stations of a laboratory automation system, wherein the sample distribution system comprises:

a plurality of sample container carriers, wherein the sample container carriers comprise at least one magnetic element and receive a sample container;

a transport device, wherein the transport device comprises;

a transport surface to carry the sample container carriers,

a plurality of electromagnetic actuators arranged in a stationary manner under the transport surface, wherein the electromagnetic actuators move a sample container carrier arranged on the transport surface, over the transport surface by applying a magnetic force to the sample container carrier, and

a control device configured to activate the electromagnetic actuators such that a sample container carrier is moved over the transport surface along a predeterminable path of movement, 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 in the sample container can be processed by a station and wherein the control device is configured to activate the electromagnetic actuators to move a sample container onto a sub-region of the transport surface if the waiting time is at least equal to a lower limit value in terms of time; and

ambient-condition influencing device to influence at least one ambient condition of the sub-region of the transport surface.

2. The sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the ambient-condition influencing device is configured to influences a temperature of the sub-region.

3. The sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the ambient-condition influencing device is configured to influence a composition of an atmosphere of the sub-region.

4. The sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the ambient-condition influencing device comprises a housing arranged over the sub-region of the transport surface.

5. The sample distribution system according to claim 4, wherein the ambient-condition influencing device has an air-conditioning device to increase a concentration of at least one chemically inert gas inside the housing.

6. The sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of ambient-condition sensors are assigned to the sub-region of the transport surface.

7. A sample distribution system according to claim 1, the sample distribution system comprising:

a temperature measuring device to measure temperatures of sample containers and/or of samples contained in the sample containers.

8. The sample distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the control device of the sample distribution system is configured to activate the electromagnetic actuators to move a sample container onto the sub-region of the transport surface if the measured temperature exceeds a threshold value.

9. The sample distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the control device of the sample distribution system is configured to determines a residence time based on the measured temperature, wherein the control device is configured to places a sample container in the sub-region of the transport surface during the residence time.

10. The sample distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising,

a refrigerator, wherein the control device is configured to activate the electromagnetic actuators to move a sample container into the refrigerator if the waiting time is at least equal to an upper limit value in terms of time.

11. A laboratory automation system, the laboratory automation system comprising:

a plurality of pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analytical stations to process sample containers and/or samples contained in the sample containers; and

a sample distribution system for distributing the sample containers between the pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analytical stations according to claim 1.