Method for processing chemistry and coagulation test samples in a laboratory workcell

• US 20070020764A1
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Miller, Kerry
• Application Number:
  US11/448,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20070020764A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/45
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2011/046 Loading, unloading, manipulating sample containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/111666 Utilizing a centrifuge or compartmented rotor

Abstract

A method for automatically providing for classification of samples at the input station of a clinical laboratory workcell and allowing only those samples that have centrifuging requirements which are satisfied by currently established centrifuge operating protocols to be processed by a centrifuge and by an analyzer associated with said workcell.

Claims

1. A method for operating an automated clinical sample workcell having a sample conveyor connecting two or more analyzers and at least one centrifuge operated by a first centrifuging protocol to a sample input station by:

classifying samples at the input station in accord with the tests to be performed thereon and the associated centrifuging requirements;

transporting to the centrifuge only those samples that have centrifuging requirements that are the same as the first centrifuging protocol; and

,

centrifuging the sample in accord with the first centrifuging protocol by the centrifuge.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retaining samples with centrifuging requirements in accord with a second protocol wherein the second protocol does not match the first protocol at the input station;

changing the centrifuge operation to the second protocol;

transporting the retained samples to the centrifuge; and

,

centrifuging the samples in accord with the second protocol by the centrifuge.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first centrifuging protocol is for samples to be processed in a chemical analyzer.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the second centrifuging protocol is for samples to be processed in a coagulation analyzer.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the first and second centrifuging protocols are identical, the method comprising:

placing all samples on the conveyor; and

,

centrifuging all samples by the centrifuge.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating the conveyor to deliver the sample to the analyzer adapted to perform the tests to be performed

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retaining samples with centrifuging requirements in accord with a second protocol wherein the second protocol does not match the first protocol at the input station;

changing the centrifuge operation of one centrifuge to the second protocol;

transporting the retained samples to said one centrifuge; and

,

centrifuging the samples in accord with the second protocol by said one centrifuge.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the centrifuging requirements are requirements for samples based on the sample fluid being processed.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the centrifuging requirements are requirements for samples based on the assay to be performed on said sample.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the centrifuging requirements are for samples to be processed in an analyzer not connected to the workcell.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the centrifuging requirements are for samples to be processed in a user defined analyzer.

7. A method for operating an automated clinical sample workcell having a sample conveyor connecting two or more analyzers and two or more centrifuges operated by a first centrifuging protocol to a sample input station by:

classifying samples at the input station in accord with the tests to be performed thereon and the associated centrifuging requirements;

transporting to any one of the centrifuges only those samples that have centrifuging requirements that are the same as the first centrifuging protocol; and

,

centrifuging the sample in accord with the first centrifuging protocol by the centrifuge.

9. A method for operating an automated clinical sample workcell having a sample conveyor connecting two or more analyzers, a first centrifuge operated by a first centrifuging protocol and a second centrifuge operated by a second protocol to a sample input station by:

classifying samples at the input station in accord with the tests to be performed thereon and the associated centrifuging requirements;

transporting to the first centrifuge only those samples that have centrifuging requirements that are the same as the first centrifuging protocol;

transporting to the second centrifuge only those samples that have centrifuging requirements that are the same as the second centrifuging protocol;

centrifuging the samples in accord with the first centrifuging protocol by the first centrifuge; and

,

centrifuging the samples in accord with the second centrifuging protocol by the second centrifuge.

10. An automated clinical sample workcell comprising:

a sample container loading/unloading station;

at least one centrifuge having first and second centrifuging protocols;

at least two analyzers;

a conveyor adapted to transport sample containers from said sample container loading/unloading station to said centrifuge and from said centrifuge to said analyzers;

identification means for determining tests to be performed upon samples contained within said sample containers;

means for determining centrifuging requirements for the tests to be performed upon samples contained within said sample containers;

control means for determining if the centrifuging requirements match said first or second centrifuging protocols;

means for converting the centrifuge between said first and second centrifuging protocol to match said first or second centrifuging protocols.

11. The workcell of claim 10 wherein the sample container loading/unloading station is adapted to retain a sample container therein until the centrifuge is converted between said first and second centrifuging protocol to match said first or second centrifuging protocols.

12. An automated clinical sample workcell comprising:

a sample container loading/unloading station;

a first centrifuge having a first centrifuging protocol;

a second centrifuge having a second centrifuging protocol;

at least two analyzers;

a conveyor adapted to transport sample containers from said sample container loading/unloading station to said centrifuge and from said centrifuge to said analyzers;

identification means for determining tests to be performed upon samples contained within said sample containers;

means for determining first and second centrifuging requirements for the tests to be performed upon samples contained within said sample containers;

control means for transporting samples having first centrifuging requirements to the first centrifuge and for transporting samples having second centrifuging requirements to the second centrifuge