Automated blood sample processing system
First Claim
1. An automated blood sample processing system comprising:
- a primary test tube loading means in which primary test tubes having blood samples therein are loaded,a conveyor system for moving test tubes, including primary and secondary test tubes, in selectable routes, said primary test tube loading means being connected to the conveyor system;
a centrifuge;
means for moving said primary test tubes from said conveyor system into said centrifuge wherein said primary test tubes are spun to separate serum from other blood components to provide spun samples and for moving primary test tubes after having been spun from said centrifuge back to said conveyor system;
a secondary test tube loading area in which empty secondary test tubes are loaded, said conveyor system being connected to the secondary test tube loading area;
a pipetting system into which primary test tubes and empty secondary test tubes are moved by said conveyor system;
means in said pipetting system to aliquot spun samples from each of said primary test tubes into a selected number of secondary test tubes;
a bar code printer having means for printing and attaching a bar code label to each of said secondary test tubes;
a capper system into which said secondary test tubes are moved by said conveyor system and in which caps are applied to said secondary test tubes; and
a sortation system into which said secondary test tubes are moved by said conveyor system and in which the secondary test tubes are sorted into separate slots in a sortation tray, the secondary test tubes being available for removal from the sortation tray slots for subsequent processing.
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Abstract
An automated blood sample processing system having a primary test tube loader in which primary test tubes having blood samples are placed, a conveyor system for moving test tubes in selectable routes, a centrifuge, a secondary test tube loading area in which empty secondary test tubes are loaded for transportation by the conveyor system, a pipetting system into which primary test tubes and empty secondary test tubes are moved by the conveyor system, the pipetting system serving to aliquot centrifuged samples from each of the primary test tubes into a selected number of secondary test tubes, a bar code printer for printing and attaching a bar code label to each of the secondary test tubes, a capper system into which the secondary test tubes are moved by the conveyor system for attaching a cap to each of the secondary test tubes and a sortation system in which the secondary test tubes are moved by the conveyor system and in which the secondary test tubes are sorted into separate slots in a sortation tray, the secondary test tubes being available for removal from the sortation tray slots for subsequent processing. The system may also include a printer for requisitions disclosing patient demographic and requisition information for use in dispatching batches of labeled secondary tubes.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An automated blood sample processing system comprising:
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a primary test tube loading means in which primary test tubes having blood samples therein are loaded, a conveyor system for moving test tubes, including primary and secondary test tubes, in selectable routes, said primary test tube loading means being connected to the conveyor system; a centrifuge; means for moving said primary test tubes from said conveyor system into said centrifuge wherein said primary test tubes are spun to separate serum from other blood components to provide spun samples and for moving primary test tubes after having been spun from said centrifuge back to said conveyor system; a secondary test tube loading area in which empty secondary test tubes are loaded, said conveyor system being connected to the secondary test tube loading area; a pipetting system into which primary test tubes and empty secondary test tubes are moved by said conveyor system; means in said pipetting system to aliquot spun samples from each of said primary test tubes into a selected number of secondary test tubes; a bar code printer having means for printing and attaching a bar code label to each of said secondary test tubes; a capper system into which said secondary test tubes are moved by said conveyor system and in which caps are applied to said secondary test tubes; and a sortation system into which said secondary test tubes are moved by said conveyor system and in which the secondary test tubes are sorted into separate slots in a sortation tray, the secondary test tubes being available for removal from the sortation tray slots for subsequent processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification