SYSTEM FOR MANAGING INVENTORY OF BULK LIQUIDS

• US 20100322822A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Gardner, Gregory E., Mahoney, Richard W., Fritchie, Patrick P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,715,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/28 Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Qmounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 ; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1009 Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 Multiple transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1074 arranged in a two-dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A system for managing bulk liquids for an automated clinical analyzer. The system comprises (a) at least one local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use, (b) at least one container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir, and (c) a controller for monitoring the level of a bulk liquid in a local reservoir. The local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use can be a trough. The use of troughs for storing a reagent, a diluent, or some other treating agent for impending use enables an aspirating/dispensing device having a plurality of pipettes to aspirate and dispense the reagent, diluent, or other treating agent at a high rate of throughput. The controller can monitor the level of a liquid in (a) a local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for imminent use and the level of liquid in a (b) container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir. In the laboratory automation system described herein, the container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir can be a bottle. Other desirable features in the system include, but are not limited to, pump(s), valves, liquid level sensors.

Claims

1. A system for the handling of bulk liquids comprising:

(a) at least one container for storing bulk liquids;

(b) at least one local reservoir for dispensing bulk liquids; and

(c) a controller for enabling the transfer of a liquid from the at least one container for storing bulk liquids to the at least one local reservoir for dispensing bulk liquids.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one local reservoir for dispensing bulk liquids comprises a trough.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of pipettes for aspirating a bulk liquid can be inserted into the at least one local reservoir simultaneously.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one local reservoir has at least one liquid level sensor associated therewith.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the local reservoir has three liquid level sensors associated therewith.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller tracks the volume of liquid remaining in the at least one container for storing bulk liquids.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller controls removal of liquid waste from the system for the handling of bulk liquids.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for loading local reservoirs onto a laboratory automation system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one local reservoir has a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle for retaining a liquids level sensor.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the mechanism comprises

(a) a holder for holding a at least one local reservoir;

(b) at least one lever arm for rotating a set of paddles;

(c) a set of paddles, each paddle holding at least one liquid level sensor for the at least one local reservoir; and

(d) at least one tube for filling and draining the at least one local reservoir.

11. The system of claim 10, further including a locking mechanism for engaging the paddles to retain the paddles in a selected position and disengaging the paddles to enable the paddles to rotate.

12. The system of claim 10, further including a slip-in divider wall for guiding the at least one tube for filling and draining the at least one local reservoir.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one tube can be raised and lowered when the paddles are rotated against the at least one local reservoir.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one local reservoir is a plurality of local reservoirs.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one local reservoir is a trough.

16. A laboratory automation system comprising the system of claim 1.