Reagent and sample handling device for automatic testing system

• US 20060263248A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Arnquist, David Charles, Luoma, Robert Paul II, Johnson, Ryan Patrick, Gomm, Cordell Kay
• Granted Patent: US 7,628,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00049 for loading/unloading a carousel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00316 Detecting door closure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00752 bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00891 Displaying information to the operator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0443 for reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0491 Position sensing, encoding; closed-loop control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00712 Automatic status testing, e.g. at start-up or periodic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00722 Communications; Identification
• 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: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

A handling device for samples and reagents to be used in testing in a system. Carriers of samples and reagents are loaded on a platform which detects the presence of, and proper loading of, such carriers. The carriers are moved from the platform by a transporter to a bar code reader for identification. A reagent container is rotated during reading to facilitate identification. The transporter further moves identified reagent carriers to a carousel on which the carriers automatically secured for storage awaiting use in testing. The carousel rotates, and selected reagent containers rotate on the rotating carousel, during storage.

Claims

1. In a testing system, a handling device for samples and reagents to be used in testing in said system, said samples and reagents being transportable by different carriers, comprising:

a platform defining a plurality of locations on which said containers may be placed from a loading side for loading into said testing system;

a position indicator at each location biased upwardly toward a first position and cooperating with said platform whereby said position indicator is engaged by a carrier on the associated position of said platform wherein

said position indicator is in a second position when any carrier is only partially loaded at the associated location,

said position indicator is in a third position when a sample carrier is properly loaded at the associated location, and

said position indicator is in a fourth position when a reagent carrier is properly loaded at the associated location; and

a sensor for detecting the position of said position indicator.

2. The sample and reagent handling device of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises first and second proximity sensors and said position indicator includes first and second ears aligned with said first and second proximity sensors respectively, wherein

in said first position, said ears are spaced from said proximity sensors,

in said second position, said first ear is proximate said first proximity sensor and said second ear is spaced from said second proximity sensor,

in said third position, said first ear is proximate said first proximity sensor and said second ear is proximate said second proximity sensor, and

in said fourth position, said first ear is spaced from said first proximity sensor and said second ear is proximate said second proximity sensor.

3. The sample and reagent handling device of claim 2, wherein said position indicator is pivotally secured beneath said platform on one end and said ears are disposed on the other end of said position indicator.

4. The sample and reagent handling device of claim 2, wherein said proximity sensors are electric eyes, and said ears are detected as proximate thereto when said electric eyes are blocked.

5. The sample and reagent handling device of claim 1, wherein said platform includes openings therethrough at each platform location, and said position indicator includes projections extending through said openings and adapted to be selectively engaged by a sample carrier or reagent carrier in either a partially loaded position or a properly loaded position.

6. The sample and reagent handling device of claim 5, wherein:

said platform at each location includes a flat portion and a raised end at said loading side;

said projections include first and second knuckles, wherein

said first knuckle projects above said platform raised end a first distance when said position indicator is in said first position, and

said second knuckle projects above said platform flat portion a second distance when said position indicator is in said first position;

whereby

a partially loaded carrier rests on said raised end and engages said first knuckle to force said position indicator down said first distance to said second position, and

one of said sample and reagent carriers when properly loaded on said platform engages said second knuckle to force said position indicator down said second distance to one of said third and fourth positions.

7. The sample and reagent handling device of claim 6,

wherein said platform locations include raised ledges along opposite sides of said platform flat portion, said raised ledges being adapted to support the other of said sample and reagent carriers above said flat portion when properly loaded;

and

further comprising a third knuckle projecting above said ledges a third distance when said position indicator is in said first position;

whereby the other of said sample and reagent carriers when properly loaded on said platform engages said third knuckle to force said position indicator down said third distance to the other of said third and fourth positions.

8. The sample and reagent handling device of claim 7, wherein said third distance is greater than said second distance and said second distance is greater than said first distance.

9. The sample and reagent handling device of claim 7, wherein said sensor comprises first and second proximity sensors and said position indicator

is spaced from said proximity sensors in said first position,

is proximate said first proximity sensor and is spaced from said second proximity sensor in said second position,

is proximate both said first and second proximity sensors in said third position, and

is spaced from said first proximity sensor and proximate said second proximity sensor in said fourth position.

10. The sample and reagent handling device of claim 9, wherein:

said position indicator includes first and second ears aligned with said first and second proximity sensors respectively;

said proximity sensors are electric eyes; and

said ears are detected as proximate thereto when said electric eyes are blocked.

11. A carrier usable in a biological testing system having a transporter adapted to move said carrier between a loading platform and an active storage carousel, comprising:

a base member adapted to be received on said loading platform for loading said carrier into said testing system;

at least one bottle seat rotatably mountable on one end of a pivot shaft through said base member, said bottle seat adapted to securely seat a container for a reagent usable in biological testing; and

a drive member secured beneath said base member to the other end of said pivot shaft, wherein said drive member and bottle seat rotate together.

12. The carrier of claim 11, wherein said drive member is a gear.

13. A supply mechanism for a biological testing system, comprising:

a loading platform;

a carrier having

a base member adapted to be received on said loading platform for loading said carrier into said testing system,

at least one bottle seat rotatably mountable on one end of a pivot shaft through said base member, said bottle seat adapted to securely seat a container for a reagent usable in biological testing, and

a drive member secured beneath said base member to the other end of said pivot shaft, wherein said drive member and bottle seat rotate together;

a bar code reader;

a transporter adapted to pick up said carrier at said loading platform and move said carrier to said bar code reader for reading a bar code identifying the reagent bottle seated on said one bottle seat; and

a drive adjacent said bar code reader and adapted to engage said carrier drive member when the reagent bottle seated on said one bottle seat is in position for its identifying bar code to be read by said bar code reader.

14. A supply mechanism for a biological testing system, comprising:

a storage carousel rotatably drivable about an axis, said carousel having storage locations therearound generally radially oriented relative to said axis;

a plurality of carriers releasably securable on selected carousel storage locations, each of said carriers having

a base member adapted to be received on said loading platform for loading said carrier into said testing system,

at least one bottle seat rotatably mountable on one end of a pivot shaft through said base member, said bottle seat adapted to securely seat a container for a reagent usable in biological testing, and

a drive member secured beneath said base member to the other end of said pivot shaft, wherein said drive member and bottle seat rotate together; and

a ring gear substantially centered on said axis, said ring gear engaging the drive members of carriers secured to said carousel whereby rotation of said carousel about said axis rotates said at least one bottle seats about said pivot shafts of said carriers to agitate reagent in seated containers.

15. A supply mechanism for a biological testing system, comprising:

a storage carousel rotatably drivable about an axis, said carousel having storage locations therearound generally radially oriented relative to said axis;

a plurality of carriers releasably securable on carousel storage locations;

a transporter adapted to transport carriers to and from the carousel storage location located at a transfer station;

a connector at each of said carousel storage locations for connecting said carriers to said carousel;

a release control adjacent said transfer station adapted to release said connection when said transporter is adjacent said transfer station.

16. The supply mechanism of claim 15, wherein said connector includes

at least one pocket at each carousel storage location adapted to receive a tab on a loaded carrier to secure said carrier to said storage location, and

a connecting member at each carousel storage location, said connecting member being biased in a first direction toward moving a carrier located in the carousel storage location to a position in which its tab is received in said pocket;

wherein said release control is engaged by said transporter to move said connecting member in a direction opposite said first direction to free said tab from said pocket when said transporter is adjacent said transfer station.

17. The supply mechanism of claim 16, wherein said release control comprises a lever actuated by the transporter to engage and move said connecting member of said storage location at said transfer station in said opposite direction.

18. The supply mechanism of claim 16, further comprising a spring biasing said connecting members in said first direction.

19. The supply mechanism of claim 15, further comprising a bar code reader and a loading platform, wherein

each of said carriers have

a base member adapted to be received on said loading platform for loading said carrier into said testing system,

at least one bottle seat rotatably mountable on one end of a pivot shaft through said base member, said bottle seat adapted to securely seat a container for a reagent usable in biological testing, and

a drive member secured beneath said base member to the other end of said pivot shaft, wherein said drive member and bottle seat rotate together;

and

said transporter is adapted to pick up said carrier at said loading platform and move said carrier to said bar code reader for reading a bar code identifying the reagent bottle seated on said one bottle seat; and

further comprising

a ring gear substantially centered on said carousel axis, said ring gear engaging the drive members of carriers secured to said carousel whereby rotation of said carousel about said axis rotates said at least one bottle seats about said pivot shafts of said carriers to agitate reagent in seated containers;

a drive adjacent said bar code reader and adapted to engage said carrier drive member when the reagent bottle seated on said one bottle seat is in position for its identifying bar code to be read by said bar code reader.