Apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects

• US 20020018733A1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Leica Microsystems Gmbh (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Kapplein, Andreas, Scheck, Peter, Gropp, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,713,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/31 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00138 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00782 reprogrammmable code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]

Abstract

An apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects (1), in particular in the field of medical technology, having at least one processing station (3) and one object carrier (2) for bringing the object (1) to the processing station (3), optionally through the processing station (3), and away from the processing station (3), is characterized in that the object carrier (2) has a code; that data concerning the object (1) and/or the handling or processing of the object (1) can be assigned to the code; and that the data can be read or retrieved by way of the code.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatic handling and processing of objects comprising:

at least one processing station;

a carrier for transporting an object to said at least one processing station and away from said at least one processing station, said carrier including a unique code; and

a control unit for storing data in registration with said code that are specific to said object and processing of said object;

whereby said data can be retrieved using said code.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said object is a medical specimen.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said carrier transports said medical specimen through said at least one processing station.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one processing station comprises a plurality of processing stations arranged in sequence.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said code is embodied as a mechanical code on said carrier that can be mechanically scanned and/or detected by way of a photoelectric barrier.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said code is embodied as a barcode that is optically detectable.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said code is stored in an electrical, electromagnetic, or optical storage medium associated with said carrier.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said carrier includes a transmitter unit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said carrier further includes a receiver unit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said transmitter unit and said receiver unit associated with the object carrier are provided in a transponder associated with said carrier.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transponder is a read-only transponder.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transponder is a write/read transponder.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an excitation coil associated with said at least one processing station for activating said transponder.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one processing station comprises a plurality of processing stations, and there is one said excitation coil for each of said plurality of processing stations.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one processing station comprises a plurality of processing stations, and there is a single said excitation coil movable in the region of said plurality of processing stations for activating said transponder.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transponder is immovably joined to said carrier.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transponder is removably attached to said carrier.

18. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transponder is configured in the form of an attachable and detachable clip.

19. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising at least one receiver with which said transponder communicates.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising at least one receiver with which said transponder communicates.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said at least one receiver comprises one receiver per each said excitation coil.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each said receiver comprises a write/read unit.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising at least one process computer to which said at least one receiver is connected.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said at least one process computer is a single process computer to which all of said receivers are connected.

25. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising at least one electronic analysis system to which said at least one receiver is connected.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said at least one electronic analysis system is a single electronic analysis system to which all of said receivers are connected.

27. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each said receiver is associated with a corresponding processing station.

28. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said code serves to identify said carrier and thus said medical specimen carried thereby.

29. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said code is used for determining and reporting position of said carrier and thus of said medical specimen carried thereby.

30. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said code is used to assign a processing program to said carrier and thus to said medical specimen carried thereby.

31. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said medical specimen is a histological or cytological specimen, and said carrier is a basket-like container receiving said medical specimen.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said at least one processing station includes an automatic stainer for staining histological or cytological specimens.