Automated method for determining the presence of a mucoid strand

• US 10,132,821 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Silbert, Rolf, Opalsky, David, Buse, David Aaron, Rosati, Robert J., Tammer, Olev, Capella, Richard, Merten, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Turk, Neil N
• Application Number:
  US15/054,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20160178654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/00 Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers nail pullers or extractors B25C11/00; attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D75/58, B65D77/30
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/12 for screening libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/265 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/28 Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Qmounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 ; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/31 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00524 Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00752 bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00811 consumable or exchangeable components other than sample carriers, e.g. detectors, flow cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00831 identification of the sample, e.g. patient identity, place of sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00861 printing and sticking of identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1018 Detecting inhomogeneities, e.g. foam, bubbles, clots
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1046 Levitated, suspended drops
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1048 using the transfer device for another function
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1051 for transporting containers, e.g. retained by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1062 for testing the liquid while it is in the transfer device
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1004 : Cleaning sample transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 : Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 : with means for piercing stoppers or septums

Abstract

The present invention provides a processing station for automatically processing a biological sample, a system for automated real-time inventory control of consumables within a biological sample handling or assay instrument, a high throughput random access automated instrument for processing biological samples, an automated instrument for processing or analysis of a sample, and processes for automated mucoid detection and elimination. Methods of using the disclosed instruments, mucoid detection processes, and systems to process and/or analyze samples are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An automated method for determining whether a mucoid strand is suspended from a pipette tip operably positioned on a pipettor, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) activating the pipettor to move the pipette tip into a fluid within a container;

(b) aspirating an amount of the fluid into the pipette tip with the pipettor;

(c) activating the pipettor to raise the pipette tip to a position above the fluid; and

(d) while the pipette tip is positioned above the fluid, determining whether a mucoid strand is suspended from the pipette tip with a reverse capacitive liquid level detection system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if a mucoid strand suspended from the pipette tip is detected in step (d), the method further comprises the steps of dispensing the aspirated fluid from the pipette tip back into the container with the pipettor and repeating steps (a)-(d).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein steps (a) and (b) are repeated in a different portion of the container than in the initial steps (a) and (b).

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising, after the dispensing step and before repeating steps (a)-(d), the step of agitating the contents of the container.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to step (a), the step of activating an automatic capping/decapping mechanism to remove a cap from the container.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to step (a), the step of revolving the container about a central axis of rotation and simultaneously rotating the container about its axis of rotation, wherein the container'"'"'s axis of rotation and the central axis of rotation are spaced apart.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of scanning information on an outer surface of the container with a data scanning mechanism.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information scanned by the data scanning mechanism comprises information about the container or its contents and the method further comprises the step of transmitting the scanned information from the data scanning mechanism to a user interface, a laboratory information system, and/or a PC controller.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of using the data scanning mechanism to determine the centerline and/or position of a barcode on the container.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising automatically applying machine-readable indicia on a surface of a reaction vessel, the machine-readable indicia including indicia relating to information scanned on the container by the data scanning mechanism.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information scanned on the container and the machine readable indicia applied to the reaction vessel comprise barcodes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the barcode on the container and the barcode applied to the reaction vessel are at least partially identical.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the machine-readable indicia is applied to the surface of the reaction vessel by a thermal printer.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the information scanned on the container by the data scanning mechanism comprises sample-identifying information, and wherein the machine-readable indicia applied onto the surface of the reaction vessel is at least partially identical to the information scanned on the container by the data scanning mechanism.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the machine-readable indicia applied on the surface of the reaction vessel includes additional machine-readable indicia that is different from the information scanned on the container by the data scanning mechanism, wherein information relating to one or more of time, volume, type, reagents, and errors is encoded in the additional machine-readable indicia.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) is further performed with a machine vision system.