AUTOMATION MAINTENANCE CARRIER

• US 20150273691A1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Pollack, Benjamin S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,668,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/005 Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0085 Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/021 Optical sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1679 characterised by the tasks executed
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00643 detecting malfunctions in conveying systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0406 Individual bottles or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00623 of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/02 Arm motion controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/41 Tool

Abstract

Maintenance carriers can include one or more tools to perform a maintenance operation. These carriers may include removable cartridges that include the tool or consumables, such as a cleaning fluid, compressed gas, or disposable items. Maintenance carriers can also be configured to move along with other carrier traffic in the automation system and may be selectively deployed.

Claims

1. An automation system for use in in-vitro diagnostics comprising:

a track;

a plurality of sample carriers configured to transport fluid samples along the track; and

one or more maintenance carriers configured to traverse the track and participate in one or more maintenance operations.

2. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more maintenance operations comprise cleaning the track.

3. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more maintenance operations comprise aligning a pipette.

4. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more maintenance operations comprise inspecting a status of the track.

5. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more maintenance operations comprise remote diagnostics of the automation system.

6. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more maintenance operations comprise replacing one or more parts that interact with the automation system.

7. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more maintenance carriers comprise at least two maintenance carriers that are equipped with different tools for participating in different maintenance operations.

8. A maintenance carrier for use in a laboratory diagnostics system comprising:

a carrier body configured to allow the carrier to selectively traverse an automation track; and

at least one tool coupled to the carrier body, the at least one tool configured to participate in a maintenance operation.

9. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the carrier body is configured to move responsive to operation of electromagnetic coils in the automation track.

10. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, further comprising a processor configured to direct motion of the maintenance carrier along the track.

11. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, further comprising a processor configured to facilitate the maintenance operation.

12. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the carrier body is configured to move responsive to operation of a friction surface of the automation track.

13. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, further comprising a wireless communication system.

14. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one tool comprises a camera configured to observe the status of a surface of the automation track.

15. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one tool comprises a camera configured to align one or more pipettes of at least one station serviced by the automation track.

16. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one tool comprises a camera configured to observe one or more components of at least one station serviced by the automation track.

17. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one tool comprises a cleaning head configured to clean a surface of the automation track.

18. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one tool comprises a cleaning head configured to clean one or more pipettes of at least one station serviced by the automation track.

19. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one tool comprises one or more optical marks that is configured to convey a location of the at least one tool to an alignment camera when it observes the maintenance carrier.

20. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one tool comprises one or more reservoirs of calibration fluid.

21. The maintenance carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one tool is part of a removable maintenance cartridge configured to couple with the carrier body.

22. The maintenance carrier of claim 17, wherein the cleaning head utilizes compressed gas to clean the surface.