AUTOMATED SAMPLE PROCESSING SYSTEM
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for a clinical lab that is capable of automatically processing, including sorting, of multiple specimen containers. The system comprises a central controller, a workstation, one or more analyzers, and an automated centrifuge. The workstation has automatic detectors for detecting the presence of a holder holding specimen containers. The workstation has a bar code reader for reading bar codes on the containers. The system has a transport subsystem, preferably a workstation robotic arm and an analyzer robotic arm for transporting the specimen containers, moving them to and from the workstation, to and from the analyzers, and to and from the centrifuge. The centrifuge is loaded with buckets containing specimen containers. The workstation can be provided with a balance system for balancing the weight of the buckets used. The workstation can also have a decapper for automatically removing caps from the specimen containers.
-
Citations
88 Claims
-
1-68. -68. (canceled)
-
69. A system for automatically preparing multiple containers containing specimens, comprising:
-
(a) two or more receptacles, each receptacle configured to receive two or more containers; (b) a centrifuge configured to receive the two or more receptacles, the centrifuge having a motor adapted to rotate the two or more receptacles in the centrifuge to a particular position for automated removal of the two or more receptacles from the centrifuge; (c) a scale to weigh the two or more receptacles; (d) a balance controller in communication with the scale to receive and process weight data of at least one of the two or more receptacles; and (e) an automated weight adjustment system in communication with the balance controller, the weight adjustment system operative to adjust the weight of at least one of the two or more receptacles in response to a signal from the balance controller. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
-
-
79. A system for automatically preparing multiple containers containing specimens, each container having a tag including container information, at least some of the containers having one or more caps, the system comprising:
-
(a) a central controller including memory to receive and store container information; (b) an information reader in communication with the central controller, the information reader configured to (i) read the container information from the tag and (ii) provide the container information to the central controller; (c) a centrifuge system for centrifugation of specimens, the centrifugation system including; (i) two or more receptacles, each receptacle configured to receive two or more containers; and (ii) a centrifuge configured to receive the two or more receptacles, the centrifuge having a motor in communication with a centrifuge controller, the motor adapted to rotate the two or more receptacles to a particular position in the centrifuge; (iii) a scale to weigh the two or more receptacles; and (iv) a balance controller in communication with the scale, the balance controller adapted to compare the weights of at least two of the two or more receptacles to determine if the receptacle weights are balanced within a preselected value. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
-
Specification