TEST MENU EXPANSION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150355207A1
• Filed: 01/14/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Pollack, Benjamin S., Gelbman, Alexander, German, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,645,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00673 of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0091 GUI [graphical user interfaces]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0094 optimisation; experiment design
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0467 Switching points ("aiguillages")
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00663 of consumables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00722 Communications; Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0095 introducing urgent samples with priority, e.g. Short Turn Around Time Samples [STATS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/021 having a flexible chain, e.g. "cartridge belt", conveyor for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line

Abstract

An automation system for use with an in vitro diagnostics environment includes a track and a plurality of carriers configured to move along the track and hold one or more of a plurality of samples and one or more of a plurality of reagents having reagent types. The system also includes one or more testing stations, one or more local reagent storage areas located at or proximate to the one or more testing stations and one or more central reagent storage areas. The system further includes a control system configured to direct the one or more reagents from the one or more local reagent storage areas to the one or more testing stations based on received reagent information and direct the one or more reagents from the one or more central reagent storage areas to the one or more testing stations based on the received reagent information.

Claims

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

a track configured to provide one or more paths;

a plurality of carriers configured to move along the track, each of the plurality of carriers configured to hold at least one of;

(i) one or more of a plurality of samples; and

(ii) one or more of a plurality of reagents having reagent types;

one or more testing stations, each testing station configured to perform one or more tests by combining the one or more reagents with the one or more samples;

one or more local reagent storage areas located at or proximate to the one or more testing stations and configured to store the one or more reagents;

one or more central reagent storage areas configured to store the one or more reagents; and

a control system configured to;

(i) direct the one or more reagents from the one or more local reagent storage areas to the one or more testing stations based on received reagent information; and

(ii) direct the one or more reagents from the one or more central reagent storage areas to the one or more testing stations based on the received reagent information.

2. The automation system of claim 1, wherein

the one or more local reagent storage areas are configured to store one or more common reagents of the plurality of reagents,

the one or more central reagent storage areas are configured to store one or more uncommon reagents of the plurality of reagents, and

the control system is further configured to:

(i) direct the one or more common reagents from the one or more local reagent storage areas to the one or more testing stations to perform the one or more tests based on received reagent information; and

(ii) direct the one or more uncommon reagents from the one or more central reagent storage areas to the one or more testing stations to perform the one or more tests based on the received reagent information.

3. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the reagent information comprises scheduling information indicating at least one of:

(i) an amount of the one or more reagent types scheduled to be combined with the one or more samples at one or more scheduled times; and

(ii) an amount of the one or more reagent types scheduled to be combined with the one or more samples at the one or more testing stations.

4. The automation system of claim 3, wherein the scheduling information is received via a laboratory information system.

5. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the reagent information is received via a user interface.

6. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to direct the one or more common reagents and the one or more uncommon reagents based on historical testing information.

7. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to direct the one or more common reagents and the one or more uncommon reagents between:

(i) the one or more local reagent storage areas;

(ii) the one or more central reagent storage areas; and

(iii) the testing stations to perform the one or more tests.

8. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to direct the one or more common reagents to the one or more central reagent storage areas prior to directing the one or more common reagents to the one or more testing stations.

9. The automation system of claim 8, wherein the one or more local reagent storage areas comprise at least one long term local reagent storage area, and

the control system is further configured to direct the one or more of the plurality of reagents from the one or more central storage areas to the at least one long term local reagent storage area prior to directing the one or more reagents to the one or more testing stations.

10. The automation system of claim 8, wherein the one or more local reagent storage areas comprise at least one short term local reagent storage area, and

the control system is further configured to direct one or more of the plurality of reagents from the one or more central storage areas to the at least one short term local reagent storage area prior to directing the one or more reagents to the one or more testing stations.

11. The automation system of claim 1, wherein groups of the plurality of reagents are stored in reagent type packs, and

the control system is further configured to:

(i) direct one or more uncommon reagent type packs from the one or more central reagent storage areas to the one or more testing stations to perform the one or more tests based on the received reagent information; and

(ii) direct the one or more uncommon reagent type packs having at least one uncommon reagent remaining in the respective one or more uncommon reagent type packs (a) back to the one or more central reagent storage areas after the one or more tests is performed or (b) to the one or more local reagent storage areas after the one or more tests is performed.

12. The automation system of claim 1, further comprising one or more pick and place devices for moving the plurality of samples and the plurality of reagents between:

(i) the one or more local reagent storage areas;

(ii) the one or more central reagent storage areas;

(iii) the testing stations to perform the one or more tests; and

(iv) the track.

13. The automation system of claim 1, further comprising a reagent track configured to provide one or more reagent paths,

wherein the control system is further configured to:

(i) direct the one or more samples along the track; and

(ii) direct the one or more common reagent types and the one or more uncommon reagent types along the reagent track.

14. The automation system of claim 1, further comprising one or more modules,

wherein the one or more modules includes at least one of:

(i) the one or more testing stations;

(ii) the one or more central storage areas; and

(iii) the one or more local reagent storage areas.

15. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to direct one or more of the plurality of reagents based on the received reagent information indicating at least one of:

(i) an amount of each type of common reagent stored at the one or more local reagent storage areas;

(ii) an amount of each type of uncommon reagent stored at the one or more central storage areas;

(iii) one or more locations of each type of common reagent on the track; and

(iv) one or more locations of each type of uncommon reagent on the track.

16. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to direct one or more of the plurality of reagents based on testing information indicating which testing station is configured to perform the one or more tests.

17. The automation system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of reagent types are stored in reagent packs, and

the control system is further configured to remove one or more empty reagent packs from the track.

18. The automation system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of reagent types are stored in reagent packs, and

the control system is further configured to direct empty packs from the one or more local reagent storage areas to the one or more central reagent storage areas.

19. An automation system for use with in vitro diagnostics comprising:

(I) a plurality of analyzers, one or more of the plurality of analyzers comprising;

(A) a track configured to provide one or more paths;

(B) a plurality of carriers configured to move along the track, each of the plurality of carriers configured to hold at least one of;

(i) one or more of a plurality of samples; and

(ii) one or more of a plurality of reagents having reagent types;

(C) one or more local modules comprising;

(a) one or more testing stations configured to perform one or more tests by combining the one or more reagents with the one or more samples; and

(b) one or more local reagent storage areas located at or proximate to the one or more testing stations and configured to store one or more common reagents of the plurality of reagents; and

(D) one or more central modules comprising one or more central reagent storage areas configured to store one or more uncommon reagents of the plurality of reagents; and

(II) a control system configured to;

(i) direct the one or more common reagents from the one or more local reagent storage areas of each respective analyzer to the one or more testing stations of each respective analyzer to perform the one or more tests based on reagent information; and

(ii) direct the one or more uncommon reagents from the one or more central reagent storage areas of each respective analyzer to the one or more testing stations of each respective analyzer to perform the one or more tests based on the reagent information.

20. The automation system of claim 19, wherein the control system is configured to direct the one or more common reagents and the one or more uncommon reagents based on the reagent information received from at least one of:

(i) the one or more analyzers;

(ii) the one or more local modules;

(iii) the one or more central modules; and

(iv) one or more of the plurality of carriers.

21. The automation system of claim 19, further comprising a scheduling information storage device configured to store the reagent information indicating at least one of:

(i) an amount of the one or more reagent types scheduled to be combined with the one or more samples at one or more scheduled times; and

(ii) an amount of the one or more reagent types scheduled to be combined with the one or more samples at the one or more testing stations,

wherein the control system is configured to direct the one or more common reagents and the one or more uncommon reagents based on the stored reagent information.

22. The automation system of claim 19, further comprising one or more calibration systems configured to calibrate the one or more common reagents and the one or more uncommon reagents,

wherein the control system is further configured to direct the one or more common reagents and the one or more uncommon reagents to be calibrated by the one or more calibration systems at a predetermined time prior to their scheduled testing.

23. The automation system of claim 19, wherein one or more of the plurality of analyzers comprises a connecting track portion which connects the tracks of the one or more analyzers, and

wherein the control system is further configured to direct the one or more common reagents and the one or more uncommon reagents between the one or more analyzers.

24. A method for operating an in vitro diagnostics system, comprising:

storing one or more common reagents of a plurality of reagents at one or more local reagent storage areas located at or proximate to one or more testing stations;

storing one or more uncommon reagents of the plurality of reagents at one or more central reagent storage areas;

receiving information used to determine at least one testing time at the one or more testing stations for one or more of the plurality of reagents to be combined with one or more samples;

directing the one or more common reagents from the one or more local reagent storage areas to the one or more testing stations based on the received information;

directing the one or more uncommon reagents from the one or more central reagent storage areas to the one or more testing stations based on the received information; and

performing at least one test at the one or more testing stations by combining at least one of;

(i) the one or more common reagents with the one or more samples; and

(ii) the one or more uncommon reagents with the one or more samples.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the receiving information used to determine at least one testing time comprises receiving scheduling information indicating at least one of:

(i) one or more reagent types scheduled to be combined with the one or more samples at the at least one scheduled testing time; and

(ii) an amount of the one or more reagent types scheduled to be combined with the one or more samples at the at least one testing time.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the receiving information used to determine at least one testing time comprises receiving historical testing information.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the receiving information used to determine at least one testing time comprises receiving reagent information indicating at least one of:

(i) an amount of each type of common reagent stored at the one or more local reagent storage areas; and

(ii) an amount of each type of uncommon reagent stored at the one or more central storage areas.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising directing the one or more uncommon reagents from the one or more central storage areas to the one or more local reagent storage areas prior to directing the one or more uncommon reagents to the one or more testing stations.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising directing the one or more common reagents to the one or more central reagent storage areas prior to directing the one or more common reagents to the one or more testing stations.