Specimen carrier

• US 3,916,157 A
• Filed: 08/16/1972
• Issued: 10/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martin J. Salwen, Robert E. Roulette
• Original Assignee: Martin J. Salwen, Robert E. Roulette
• Inventors: Roulette, Robert E., Salwen, Martin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kilgore, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US05/281,071
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 73/53 235/61.11R,61.11E,61.11B,61.12R,61.12N,61.12M,61.9R,61.7R 23/253,259,250 356/36 200/46 194/9R,1R,DIG.11 88/14
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00762 magnetic code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00772 mechanical or optical code other than bar code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0406 Individual bottles or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0413 moving in one dimension
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0486 Gearing, cams
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/021 having a flexible chain, e.g. "cartridge belt", conveyor for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/00 Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion G06K1/00; pattern recognition G06F18/00; arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding G06V10/00; character recognition, recognising digital ink or document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00

Abstract

The specification describes a carrier for test tubes or other containers that will keep the specimen together with its identification from the time the specimen is taken until the final results are obtained. The carrier is adapted to be handled automatically in conjunction with an analytic instrument and to provide for readout of identification and results from the analytic instrument.

Claims

1. A reusable carrier for use in coupling a medical sample to be analyzed with an identification code while conducting said analysis, comprising, a. a stable base member, b. support means extending upwardly from said base member to support a separate test tube container in an upright position, said test tube containing said sample to be analyzed, said support means providing structural support for said test tube while the sample in said test tube is being analyzed, c. means for receiving and displaying a separate coded identification marker at the time said test tube and said sample are placed in said carrier, d. transmission means mounted on said carrier to engage a corresponding transmission means in an automatic analyzer, said transmission means being adapted to transport the carrier and its container from station to station during analysis, said transmission means comprising a rack and guide means, said rack adapted to be engaged by transmission means in a control station to transport the carrier and its container from station to station.

2. A reusable carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carrier base member defines an elevator opening to enable an elevator operated by said automatic analyzer to raise the container to a predetermined height.

3. A carrier train comprising:

a. at least two carriers each of said carriers having a stable base member, support means extended upwardly from the base member to support a separate test tube container in an upright position, said test tube containing a sample to be analyzed, said support means providing structural support for said test tube while the sample of said test tube is being analyzed and means for receiving and displaying a separate coded identification marker at the time said test tube and said sample are placed in said carrier, b. coupling means for joining said carriers together, said coupling means comprising an upper spring clip which engages upper openings defined by said carriers.

4. A method of coupling a medical sample to be analyzed with a coded identification means while conducting a plurality of analyses comprising a. drawing and placing a bulk sample to be analyzed in a container at a first location near a medical patient. b. preparing a coded means for identifying said bulk sample to be analyzed at a first location near a medical patient, c. inserting both the container and the coded means for identification into a carrier adapted to support said container, said identification means being mounted to identify both the sample and the carrier at the time said bulk sample is taken at a first location near a medical patient, d. transporting said bulk sample, container, carrier, and identification to a plurality of locations for conducting a plurality of analyses, said sample, container, carrier and identification remaining together from the first location through the completion of the last of said analyses at said second location, e. sipping discrete samples from said bulk sample for automatic analysis, said bulk sample remaining in its original container through the completion of the last of said analyses at said second location, f. Combining the results of said automatic analyses and the identification carried by said coded means.

5. A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises reading said coded identification by optical scanning, wherein said identification is coded on said marker.

6. A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises reading said coded identification by magnetic sensing, wherein said identification comprises at least one permeable character.

7. A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises reading said coded identification by punch card indicia wherein said identification is punch coded on said marker.

8. A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises transporting said carrier from station to station by a transmission means and guide means molded on said carrier.

9. A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises elevating said container to a predetermined height to enable the automatic processing machinery to sip discrete samples from the bulk sample.

10. A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises recording the identification carried by said identification marker in a central memory bank for reference in separate analysis operations and separate printouts of test results, medical histories, and customer bills.

11. A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises centrifuging the bulk sample in the container, after said container has been placed in said carrier and identified but before said automatic analysis is begun.

12. A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises optically analyzing said bulk sample by projecting an optically deformable beam through an opening defined in said carrier, said beam passing through the container and said bulk sample.

13. A reusable carrier for use in coupling a medical sample to be analyzed with an identification code while conducting said analysis, comprising a. a stable base member, b. support means extending upwardly from said base member to support a separate test tube container in an upright position, said test tube containing said sample to be analyzed, said support means providing structural support for said test tube while the sample in said test tube is being analyzed, c. said support means defining at least one opening in said carrier imMediately adjacent said test tube to enable an analyzing beam generated externally of said carrier to impinge upon said test tube, d. a planar identification marker for displaying said identification code, said marker identifying said sample from the time it is drawn from a patient to the completion of said analysis, e. guide means for slidably receiving and securing said planar identification marker, said means being defined by the walls of said upwardly extending support means.

14. A reusable carrier as claimed in claim 13 which further comprises transmission means mounted on said carrier to engage a corresponding transmission means mounted on said carrier to engage a corresponding transmission means in an automatic analyzer, said transmission means being adapted to transport the carrier and its test tube from station to station during analysis.

15. A carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said support means further defines a first and second engaging abutments, said abutments adapted to engage a standard centrifuge.

16. A carrier as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first and second engaging abutments comprise projecting lips extending outwardly from the center axis of said carrier in opposite directions, said lips being mounted on the uppermost portion of the support means to engage a centrifuge trunnion ring.

17. A carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said identification means further comprises at least one optically readable character.

18. A carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said identification means further comprises at least one magnetically readable character.

19. A carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said identification means further comprise a surface defining at least one punch coded opening.