Liquid waste management system

• US 20080154543A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Luoma, Robert P., Ramsey, Jack F., Ochranek, Brian L., Berryman, GeDon G., Lains, Daniel H., Blackwell, Gregory A., Rajagopal, Ganesh, Whitt, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,449,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/00 Cleaning or rinsing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0496 Other details
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00 Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1004 Cleaning sample transfer devices

Abstract

A system for removing liquid waste from an automated diagnostic instrument. The system comprises

• • (a) an accumulator having at least one inlet for waste liquids and at least one outlet for waste liquids;
  • (b) a vacuum sub-system connected to the accumulator, said vacuum sub-system comprising a vacuum pump; and
  • (c) a drain portion for removing waste liquids comprising a peristaltic pump having spring-loaded rollers.

The liquid waste from the automated diagnostic instrument is moved by means of a pressure differential created by the vacuum pump and the peristaltic pump having spring-loaded rollers.

Claims

1. A system for removing waste liquids from an automated diagnostic instrument, said system comprising:

(d) an accumulator having at least one inlet for waste liquids and at least one outlet for waste liquids;

(e) a vacuum sub-system connected to the accumulator, said vacuum sub-system comprising a vacuum pump; and

(f) a drain portion for removing waste liquids comprising a peristaltic pump having spring-loaded rollers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said accumulator communicates with at least one wash station.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the peristaltic pump transfers liquid waste to an on-board container for liquid waste.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the on-board container for liquid waste can be removed, emptied, and replaced without interrupting the operation of the automated diagnostic instrument.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein, if the on-board container for liquid waste is not replaced within the proper amount of time, the system prevents initiation of new tests and completes only tests already in progress.

6. The system of claim 3, further including a check valve between the peristaltic pump and the on-board container for liquid waste.

7. The system, of claim 3, wherein the on-board container for liquid waste utilizes a liquid level sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein liquid waste is moved by means of a pressure differential created by the vacuum pump and the peristaltic pump having spring-loaded rollers.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid waste can be pumped directly into a drain of the laboratory.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the drain can be located above the level of the floor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one inlet for the accumulator receives waste liquids from at least one of reactions vessels, a pipette probe, a reagent cooler.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one inlet for the accumulator receives waste liquids from reaction vessels.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one inlet for the accumulator receives waste liquids from a pipette probe.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one inlet for the accumulator receives waste liquids from a reagent cooler.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the accumulator utilizes a liquid level sensor and a vacuum pressure sensor.

16. The system of claim 1, further including a waste pump pressure switch.

17. The system of claim 1, further including a reagent cooler condensate reservoir.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the vacuum sub-system further comprises a filter and a muffler.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the level of a drain can be up to 40 inches above the level of the floor upon which the instrument stands.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein a source of waste for the system includes fluids used to prime the automated diagnostic instrument.

21. An automated diagnostic analyzer comprising the liquid waste management system of claim 1.

22. The automatic diagnostic analyzer of claim 21, wherein said automated diagnostic analyzer further comprises a buffer dispensing system, a system for dispensing pre-trigger solution, and a system for dispensing trigger solution.

23. The system of claim 1, further including a control system for sensing the level of vacuum and changing the speed of the vacuum pump.