MOBILE ROBOT AND CLINICAL TEST APPARATUS USING THE SAME

• US 20090035181A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Postech Academy-Industry Foundation
• Original Assignee: Postech Academy-Industry Foundation
• Inventors: Koo, Ja Choon, Ryu, Sung Moo, Chung, Wan Kyun, Kim, Min Chul, Choi, Hyouk Ryeol
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/68.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A clinical test apparatus employing a mobile robot is provided. The clinical test apparatus includes a stage unit, a test station provided in the stage unit and configured to perform a clinical test, a mobile robot configured to move on a top surface of the stage unit and to transfer a plate on which samples and reagents are loaded to the test station, and a docking unit disposed in the stage unit and configured to reset a position of the mobile robot. A variety of test stations for a clinical test can be integrated, and multiple tests can be performed at the same time through a plurality of mobile robots.

Claims

1. A clinical test apparatus comprising:

a stage unit;

a test station provided in the stage unit and configured to perform a clinical test;

a mobile robot configured to move on a top surface of the stage unit and to transfer a plate on which samples and reagents are loaded to the test station; and

a docking unit disposed in the stage unit and configured to reset a position of the mobile robot.

2. The clinical test apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking unit comprises:

a reference gripper fixed on the stage unit; and

a movement gripper spaced apart from the reference gripper and configured to move forward and backward, wherein when the mobile robot is placed between the reference gripper and the movement gripper, the movement gripper moves, and the mobile robot is thus brought in contact with the reference gripper and the movement gripper to thereby reset the position of the mobile robot.

3. The clinical test apparatus of claim 2, wherein the movement gripper comprises charging terminals, and as the movement gripper contacts the mobile robot, the charging terminals are brought in contact with charging connectors of the mobile robot to thereby charge a battery built in the mobile robot.

4. The clinical test apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile robot comprises:

a diagnostic module in which the plate is seated; and

a mobile module having the diagnostic module mounted therein and configured to move the top surface of the stage unit.

5. The clinical test apparatus of claim 1, wherein landmarks for adjusting the positional error of the mobile robot are disposed on the top surface of the stage unit.

6. The clinical test apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the landmarks comprises a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on the top surface of the stage unit, and the mobile module comprises hall sensors for measuring magnetic fields of the plurality of permanent magnets.

7. A mobile robot, comprising:

a diagnostic module in which a plate having samples and reagents loaded thereon is seated; and

a mobile module having the diagnostic module mounted therein and configured to transfer the diagnostic module to a test station where a clinical test is performed.

8. The mobile robot of claim 7, wherein the diagnostic module comprises a RFID reader for reading a RFID tag mounted in the plate.

9. The mobile robot of claim 7, wherein the diagnostic module comprises a detector for calculating results of the clinical test.

10. The mobile robot of claim 9, wherein the detector comprises a spectrophotometer.