Open platform automated sample processing system
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated sample processing system having a sample input adapted to simultaneously receive a number of sample containers, a reagent input adapted to receive one or more new reagent supplies, a consumable input adapted to receive one or more new consumable supplies, a solid waste output adapted to receive used consumable supplies, a liquid waste output adapted to receive one or more used reagent supplies, and a processing center. The processing center includes a decapper adapted to remove a lid from at least one sample container, an aspirator adapted to remove a specimen from the at least one sample container and transfer the specimen to an output vessel, and a capper adapted to replace the lid on the at least one sample container. The system also includes a sample output adapted to receive the output vessel, and a user interface adapted to receive an input from the user to indicate the identity of the at least one sample container, and control at least one operation based on a physical property of the at least one sample container.
283 Citations
27 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A continuous-loading sample processing system comprising:
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a sample input adapted to receive at least one sample container rack manually provided by a user; a consumable input adapted to receive one or more unused consumable supplies manually provided by a user; a waste output adapted to receive used consumable supplies; an automated processing center comprising; a decapper adapted to remove a lid from at least one sample container provided in the at least one sample container rack, a pipettor adapted to remove a specimen from the at least one sample container and transfer the specimen to at least one output vessel, and a capper adapted to replace the lid on the at least one sample container; a sample output adapted to receive the at least one output vessel and present the at least one output vessel to a user for manual removal. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A sample processing system comprising:
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a sample input adapted to simultaneously receive a plurality of sample containers; a consumable input adapted to receive one or more unused consumable supplies; a waste output adapted to receive used consumable supplies; an automated processing center comprising; a decapper adapted to remove a lid from at least one sample container, a pipettor adapted to remove a specimen from the at least one sample container and transfer the specimen to an output vessel, and a capper adapted to replace the lid on the at least one sample container; a sample output adapted to receive the output vessel; and a user interface adapted to receive an input from the user to indicate the identity of the at least one sample container, and control at least one operation based on a physical property of the at least one sample container. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A hybrid manual-automated method for processing samples, the method comprising:
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manually providing a plurality of sample containers in a sample input; manually providing unused consumable supplies in a consumables input; automatically removing a lid from each sample container using an automated system; automatically withdrawing a specimen from each sample container using the automated system; automatically transferring the specimen to an output vessel using the automated system; automatically replacing the lid on each sample container using the automated system; automatically conveying the output vessel to an sample output location using the automated system; and manually removing the output vessel from the sample output location. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification