Sample processing apparatus with a vision system

• US 20070177778A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Protedyne Corporation (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Original Assignee: Protedyne Corporation (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Inventors: Massaro, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,876,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 Control of the volume dispensed or introduced

Abstract

A sample processing apparatus has an associated machine vision system. The vision system may acquire an image of at least one fluidic chamber, which can be analyzed by the machine vision system and/or stored. The image and/or analysis of the image may provide a record of the actions of the sample processing apparatus, which permits a user to verify proper operation of the sample processing apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a sample handling process, comprising:

associating a liquid sample with a fluidic chamber;

performing the sample handling process with liquid sample with respect to the fluidic chamber, the sample handling process including a change in state of the liquid sample with respect to the fluidic chamber;

using a machine vision system to acquire a 2-dimensional image of at least a portion of the fluidic chamber before, during or after performance of the sample handling process; and

storing the acquired image to allow later verification of the change in state of at least a portion of the liquid sample during the sample handling process.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluidic chamber comprises a pipette, a filter plate, a well, a channel, or a tube.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the image with an identifier.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identifier uniquely identifies the liquid sample.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the analyzing step includes using the image to determine the change in state including a volume change of the liquid sample, an existence of the liquid sample, a presence of an air bubble associated with the liquid sample, a color associated with the liquid sample, movement of a portion of the liquid sample, and/or a presence of a clot associated with the liquid sample.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample handling process comprises filtering, aspirating, dispensing, centrifuging, and/or a microfluidic process.

8. A sample handling apparatus, comprising:

at least one fluidic chamber adapted to hold a liquid sample and allow for a change in state of the liquid sample relative to the fluidic chamber; and

a machine vision system having an image acquisition device positioned to acquire a 2-dimensional image of at least a portion of the fluidic chamber, the machine vision system being adapted to allow verification of the change in state of the liquid sample relative to the at least one fluidic chamber based on the image.

9. The sample handling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one fluidic chamber includes a plurality of fluidic chambers.

10. The sample handling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the machine vision system includes an image analyzer adapted to perform an image analysis operation on the image.

11. The sample handling apparatus of claim 10, wherein the image analyzer is configured to determine a volume of the liquid sample, an existence of the liquid sample, a presence of an air bubble associated with the liquid sample, a color associated with the liquid sample, movement of a portion of the liquid sample, a presence of a clot associated with the liquid sample, and/or a presence of a filter.

12. The sample handling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the change in state includes a change in volume of the liquid sample, a color associated with the liquid sample, movement of a portion of the liquid sample, and/or a change in position of the liquid sample.

13. The sample handling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the image acquisition device includes a CCD camera.

14. The sample handling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the image is associated with a source of at least a portion of the liquid sample.

15. The sample handling apparatus of claim 14, wherein the source is a person from whom at least a portion of the liquid sample was taken.

16. The sample handling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the machine vision system is adapted to verify that at least a portion of the liquid sample has been aspirated or dispensed with respect to the fluidic chamber based on the image.

17. The sample handling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the machine vision system is adapted to verify that at least a portion of the liquid sample has been filtered at the fluidic chamber.

18. The sample handling apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a robotic system adapted to manipulate the fluidic chamber with the liquid sample.

19. The sample handling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the vision system is adapted to provide input for control of movement of the robotic system.