Sample Preparation System And Method for Processing Clinical Specimens
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vial processing system comprising:
- an input platform adapted to receive a vial;
a staging platform adapted to receive a vial;
a vial handler positioned to transfer a vial between the input platform and staging platform;
a cap handler positioned to engage and remove a cap of a vial in the staging platform;
a vial gripper disposed on the staging platform to restrict movement of the vial during removal of the cap; and
a transfer pipette assembly comprising a pipette arm and tip head assembly, the tip head assembly being mounted to the pipette arm and adapted to receive a pipette tip, the pipette arm being positioned to translate the tip head assembly between an open vial and a destination area.
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Abstract
A system and method for automated handling of vials containing liquid medical specimens is disclosed. The robotic system processes the specimens for further downstream molecular analysis. The processing comprises automated vial cap removal, pipetting of the vial contents, transfer of the vial contents to a destination tray such as a multiwell plate, and recapping of the vial.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vial processing system comprising:
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an input platform adapted to receive a vial; a staging platform adapted to receive a vial; a vial handler positioned to transfer a vial between the input platform and staging platform; a cap handler positioned to engage and remove a cap of a vial in the staging platform; a vial gripper disposed on the staging platform to restrict movement of the vial during removal of the cap; and a transfer pipette assembly comprising a pipette arm and tip head assembly, the tip head assembly being mounted to the pipette arm and adapted to receive a pipette tip, the pipette arm being positioned to translate the tip head assembly between an open vial and a destination area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A automated vial processing system comprising:
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a microprocessor; an input carousel for receiving a plurality of semi-circular vial holding racks wherein the vial holding racks have a plurality of wells sized to receive a plurality of vials, and wherein the microprocessor is in functional communication with the input carousel and is capable of controlling the rotational movement of the carousel; a mixing basket having a well sized to receive a vial wherein the microprocessor is in functional communication with the mixing basket and is capable of controlling the mixing of the contents of a vial; a staging carousel having a plurality of wells sized to receive a plurality of vials and wherein the microprocessor is in functional communication with the staging carousel and is capable of controlling the rotational movement of the carousel; a vial gripper comprising a belt having a first and second end and being disposed within each staging carousel well, a lever arm having a first and second ends, and an actuator, wherein the first end of the belt is connected to the staging platform, the second end of the belt is connected to a first end of a tightening lever arm, and the actuator is arranged to communicate with the second end of the lever arm, wherein the microprocessor is in functional communication with the actuator and is capable of controlling the engagement of the actuator with the lever arm and tightening and releasing of the belt on a vial; a vial handler positioned to transfer vials between the input carousel, mixing basket and staging carousel wherein the microprocessor is in functional communication with the vial handler and is capable of controlling the movement of vials between the input carousel, mixing basket and staging carousel; a cap handler positioned to engage a cap of a vial and to remove and reapply the cap to the vial, wherein the cap handler comprises at least two fingers extending parallel to and substantially equidistance radially and angularly from a central axis, and a torque sensor for detecting the force of a finger on a vial cap being engaged, whereby the cap handler is capable of engaging vial caps of variable size, and wherein the microprocessor is in functional communication with the cap handler and is capable of controlling the engagement of the cap handler with a vial cap; and a transfer pipette assembly comprising a pipette arm, a tip head assembly, and a vacuum generator pump, the tip head assembly being mounted to the pipette arm and adapted to receive a disposable pipette tip, the pipette arm being positioned to translated the tip head assembly between a pipette tip storage area, an open vial, a destination plate and a pipette tip discharge area, wherein the tip head assembly is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of a tip head and comprises a collar, a beveled nozzle tip and a liquid level measurement sensor, wherein the collar is slideably attached to the nozzle tip and wherein the nozzle tip is compliant in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the microprocessor is in functional communication with the transfer pipette assembly and is capable of controlling the movement of the tip head assembly between the pipette tip storage area, the open vial, the destination plate and the pipette tip discharge, and is capable of controlling the operation of the vacuum generator pump to withdraw a predetermined volume of content from a vial.
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18. A method of processing vial contents comprising:
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placing a vial in an input platform adapted to receive the vial; transferring a vial from the input platform to a staging platform adapted to receive a vial using a vial handler positioned to transfer vials between the input platform and staging platform under control of a microprocessor; gripping the vial in the staging platform to prevent rotational motion and while gripping the vial, removing a cap from the vial using a cap handler positioned to engage and remove a cap of a vial under control of a microprocessor; holding the cap in the cap handler while removing a predetermined volume of vial contents from the uncapped vial using a transfer pipette assembly comprising a pipette arm and tip head assembly, the tip head assembly being mounted to the pipette arm and adapted to receive a pipette tip, the pipette arm being positioned to translated the tip head assembly between an open vial and a vial content destination area under control of a microprocessor; discharging the predetermined volume of content from the pipette onto a destination plate under control of a microprocessor; and recapping the vial after the predetermined volume of content has been removed from the vial under control of a microprocessor.
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Specification