Unit For Processing Microbiological Samples

• US 20080160599A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bioplan Consulting GmbH, Klaus Weber-Matthiesen
• Original Assignee: Bioplan Consulting GmbH, Klaus Weber-Matthiesen
• Inventors: Weber-Matthiesen, Klaus, Sygall, Peter Ivan, Jansen, Johannes
• Application Number:
  US11/574,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20080160599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/286.2
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/50 Means for positioning or orientating the apparatus C12M41/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/52 Mobile; Means for transporting the apparatus transportable laboratories B01L1/52

Abstract

A unit for processing microbiological samples has a conveyor for transporting samples, for example in microtitre plates. At a processing station, samples for processing are transferred in their sample containers from the transport device to a processing device, which can have several processing areas, of which only one is ever in a processing position. A manipulating device is associated with the processing position. A magazine dispenses sample containers for processing. An incubator accumulates and discharges sample containers using transport and storage arrangements with coupleable conveyors on multiple levels.

Claims

1. A unit for automated processing of biological samples, comprising:

a revolving transport device arranged for transporting sample containers,

at least one processing position for samples in the sample containers,

at least one processing device for the samples, and

a manipulating device operable to position the processing device opposite the processing position.

2. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising a magazine for storing consumable materials, and equipment for discharging the consumable materials and for delivering the consumable materials to the transport device.

3. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising an incubator for accommodating the samples in a defined environment.

4. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing position is disposed outside a transport section of the transport device.

5. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising transfer equipment operable for delivering the sample containers in at least one direction between the transport device and the processing position.

6. The unit according to claim 5, wherein the transfer equipment operates independent of the manipulating device.

7. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating device is configured for mechanical and functional coupling of the processing device.

8. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising a waiting station defining a waiting position disposed outside the processing position for the processing device.

9. The unit according to claim 8, wherein the waiting station is arranged such that the processing device can be cleaned, serviced and prepared for further work at said waiting station.

10. The unit according to claim 1, comprising at least one additional said processing device, and wherein the processing devices work independently of one another.

11. The unit according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said waiting position and said processing position is disposed such that the manipulating device can approach an operational position of the manipulating device through a linear motion along one degree of freedom of the manipulating device.

12. The unit according to claim 8, wherein at least two of one or more said waiting positions of one or more said processing devices and one or more said processing positions are disposed on a line parallel to a transport direction of the transport device.

13. The unit according to claim 8, wherein a degree of freedom of the manipulating device comprises a motion parallel to a transport direction of the transport device.

14. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing position is movable in a direction parallel to a transport direction of the transport device.

15. The unit according to claim 14, wherein the unit has plural processing stations associated with said one processing position.

16. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the transport device is arranged to move the sample containers along a path including two parallel strands with two return pulleys.

17. The unit according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the processing device, the processing position and the manipulating device is disposed in an area of one of the return pulleys.

18. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing position is disposed between transport sections of the transport device and a waiting position associated with the processing device.

19. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the sample containers comprise microtitre plates.

20. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the transport device comprises receptacles adapted for microtitre plates.

21. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising transfer equipment operable to transfer receptacles associated with the sample containers from the transport device to the processing position.

22. The unit according to claim 21, wherein the transfer equipment is configured to transfer microtitre plates from the transport device to the processing position.

23. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the magazine comprises at least one roller conveyor inclined for successive disposition of a series of sample containers.

24. The unit according to claim 23, wherein the roller conveyor charges the sample containers toward a front direction of the magazine against a stopper.

25. The unit according to claim 24, wherein the sample containers are charged by driven rollers.

26. The unit according to claim 24, wherein the sample containers are charged by driven rollers on which the sample containers lie.

27. The unit according to claim 25, wherein the sample containers are moved by a drive comprising a slip between a drive comprising at least one of a belt and a roller on the one hand, and the sample containers on the other hand.

28. The unit according to claim 25, wherein the sample containers are moved by a drive comprising a slip with at least one of a belt and a roller.

29. The unit according to claim 23, wherein a feed effect is generated by an inclined alignment of a guideway for the sample containers.

30. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the equipment for charging and discharging the consumable materials comprises roller conveyors.

31. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the equipment for charging and discharging the consumable materials comprises a surface coated with smooth-slide material.

32. The unit according to claim 23, wherein the roller conveyors comprise a sample-container guide disposed adjacent to the sample containers.

33. The unit according to claim 32, wherein a distance between a top side and a bottom side defined by a respective said sample-container guide is smaller than a sum of heights of a removed lid and a lower part of the sample container apart from the lid.

34. The unit according to claim 33, wherein the top side is defined at least partly by rollers of a respectively next higher roller conveyor of the magazine.

35. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the manipulating device is configured to lift a front sample container of a plurality of said sample containers above a stopper confining the sample containers.

36. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the manipulating device is configured to move a stopper from in front of a front sample container of a plurality of said sample containers, and into a horizontally opened gap in front of a next sample container for permitting the front sample container to move off.

37. The unit according to claim 3, wherein the incubator is arranged such that delivery of one of the sample containers into and out of the incubator occurs in a linear and horizontal manner.

38. The unit according to claim 37, wherein the incubator is designed such that movement of the sample container is caused by a manipulating device inside the incubator and a drive disposed outside the incubator.

39. The unit according to claim 37, wherein the incubator comprises an inlet sluice, which inlet sluice is only opened for placing and removing sample containers.

40. The unit according to claim 39, comprising conveyors associated with the incubator, the conveyors having a surface coated with smooth-slide material.

41. The unit according to claim 3, wherein the incubator comprises a plurality of receptacles for the sample containers, the receptacles being disposed along a closed path for transporting the sample containers in at least one of two opposite directions along said path.

42. The unit according to claim 41, wherein the receptacles are suspended on elongated flexible members of a paternoster lift.

43. The unit according to claim 42, wherein the elongated flexible members comprise multiple perpendicularly running strands.

44. The unit according to claim 37, wherein the incubator has a plurality of levels associated with drivable return belts.

45. The unit according to claim 44, further comprising a transport segment that is perpendicularly movable and stoppable at a height of any of the levels.

46. The unit according to claim 44, wherein a drive coupling is provided between a transport segment and a respective one of the drivable return belts for one of the levels and the drive coupling can be engaged when the transport segment is placed at a height corresponding to and is coupled to the level.

47. The unit according to claim 44, comprising a return transport segment that is perpendicularly movable and stoppable at a height of any of the levels.

48. The unit according to claim 47, wherein a drive coupling is provided between the return transport segment and a revolving belt of one of the levels, accessed when the return transport segment is at a height corresponding to the respective level and a drive of the return transport segment is coupled to the level.

49. The unit according to claim 47, comprising two said transport segments, respectively operable as transport and return transport segments and wherein the transport segments each can be driven in both directions.

50. The unit according to claim 3, wherein a manipulating device for feeding the incubator is provided outside the incubator and may be moved along an inlet opening of the incubator.

51. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising a loading station for manual input of the sample containers into the transport device.

52. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic ejection station for the sample containers.

53. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for removing and placing a lid from and onto one of the sample containers.

54. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising an additional processing station along a transport section of the transport device.

55. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the transport device is configured for transporting consumable material in receptacles provided for the sample containers.

56. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the magazine is configured for storing of consumable material and sample containers and is connectable with a transport section of the transport device.

57. The unit according to claim 56, wherein the magazine comprises a drive unit for step-wise further transport of piles of consumable material and transfer equipment for delivering a part of one of the piles to the transport device.

58. The unit according to claim 57, wherein the equipment of the magazine comprises transfer equipment that processes said one of the piles from bottom to top.

59. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating device is additionally movable in a longitudinal direction of the transport device.

60. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the transport device (1) comprises modular units that are connectable with one another.

61. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the consumable materials are stored in the magazine in said sample containers.