Reagent bottle identification and reagent monitoring system for a chemical analyzer

• US 5,357,095 A
• Filed: 07/16/1992
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALFA Wassermann Incorporated (Alfasigma S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Schiapparelli Biosystems, Inc.
• Inventors: Richardson, Gary, Clark, James, Schmidt, Leon, Weyrauch, Bruce, Butts, Charles, Kelln, Norman, Loughlin, Kelsey
• Primary Examiner(s): Willis, Davis L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sikorski, Edward
• Application Number:
  US07/916,221
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 235/494, 235/454, 235/487, 235/375, 382/48, 382/68
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00425 Heating or cooling means associated with pipettes or the like, e.g. for supplying sample/reagent at given temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00673 of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0446 Combinations of the above
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00663 of consumables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1004 Cleaning sample transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06262 with target- or other orientation-indicating feature
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00

Abstract

An automatic chemical analyzer utilizes reagents supplied in reagent bottles. The reagent bottles are labeled on their bottom surfaces with an identification label bearing a machine-readable identification code. The automatic chemical analyzer includes a reagent tray having a plurality of tray apertures therein which receive coded reagent bottles and which expose the bottom surface of each bottle for optical viewing of the machine-readable identification code. The analyzer further includes optical scanner means positioned below the reagent tray for reading the machine-readable identification code on the bottom surfaces of reagent bottles within the tray apertures. The tray apertures are selectively located over the optical scanner means so that the analyzer can identify the reagent bottle and the contents thereof.

The identification label has a spaced pair of position reference dots defining and orienting a label area. A plurality of bit fields surround the position reference dots, their positions being defined by the position reference dots. Each bit field maps to a single bit of a multi-bit binary bottle identification code. Bit dots are printed in selected bit fields to define the binary value of each bit of the multi-bit binary identification code.

Claims

1. A method of labeling a reagent bottle with a bottle identification code for subsequent reading of the bottle identification code by an automated chemical analyzer, the method comprising the following steps:

locating a spaced pair of position reference dots within an imprinted pattern of dots on a label to define and orient a label area by imprinting a central position dot at the approximate center of the label area and imprinting an orientation dot at the rim of the pattern at a location spaced radially outward from the central position dot;

dividing the remainder of the label area into a plurality of bit fields, the positions of the bit fields surrounding being defined by the spaced pair of position reference dots, the spacing between the imprinted pair of reference dots being substantially greater than the spacing between adjacent bit fields about the label area and also being greater than the spacing between each of the imprinted reference dots and the bit fields adjacent to it;

generating a multi-bit binary bottle identification code;

mapping each bit field to a single bit of the multi-bit binary bottle identification code; and

imprinting bit dots within selected bit fields about the label area, the location of each imprinted bit dot being dependent upon the binary value of the mapped bit field of the multi-bit binary bottle identification code;

the imprinted position reference dots having a minimum area and the imprinted bit dots having a maximum area, the minimum area of the imprinted position reference dots being greater than the maximum area of the imprinted bit dots, the imprinted position reference dots being distinguishable from the imprinted bit dots by their relatively greater areas and spacing.

2. An identification label for use on the bottom surface of a reagent bottle having a bottle identification code for subsequent reading of the bottle identification code by an automated chemical analyzer, comprising:

a label having a surface background on which a contrasting pattern of dots is imprinted;

the pattern of dots including a spaced pair of imprinted position reference dots in the form of a central position dot located at the approximate center of the label and an orientation dot spaced radially outward from the central position dot at the rim of the pattern, the central position dot and orientation dot defining and orienting a label area containing both of them;

the remaining label area being divided into a plurality of bit fields with the positions of the bit fields surrounding and being defined by the spaced pair of position reference dots, the spacing between the imprinted pair of reference dots being substantially greater than the spacing between adjacent bit fields about the label area and also being greater than the spacing between each of the imprinted reference dots and the bit fields adjacent to it; and

bit dots imprinted in selected bit fields about the label area;

the imprinted position reference dots having a minimum area and the imprinted bit dots having a maximum area, the minimum area of the imprinted position reference dots being greater than the maximum area of the imprinted bit dots, the imprinted position reference dots being distinguishable from the imprinted bit dots by their relatively greater areas and spacing;

wherein each bit field maps to a single bit of a multi-bit binary bottle identification code, the binary value of each bit of the multi-bit binary identification code determining whether a bit dot is present in the mapped bit field.

3. In combination with the label of claim 2:

a reagent bottle including a bottom surface, the imprinted label being affixed to the bottom surface of the reagent bottle.