Specimen carrier for automated transport system and method and apparatus for identifying same

• US 6,343,690 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coulter International Corp. (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Coulter International Corp. (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Quesada, Valentin, Veiner, Craig, Britton, Ted W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US09/420,307
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 198/465.1, 198/867.11, 198/867.06, 198/803.8, 198/349, 198/360, 198/803.7, 198/867.13
• US Class Current: 198/867.06
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/002 comprising load carriers resting on the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0261 Puck as article support
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00782 reprogrammmable code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00801 Holders for sample carriers, e.g. trays, caroussel, racks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0406 Individual bottles or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A specimen carrier comprises a unitary structure for receiving and retaining a specimen container in an upright orientation. Such unitary structure is defined by a pedestal having upper and lower platforms connected by a stem. Extending upwardly from the upper platform is a plurality of rigid members which support a plurality of opposing flexible fingers adapted to engage and press upon the side wall of a specimen container received by the carrier. Preferably, the specimen carrier of the invention has a chamber formed therein for housing a pre-programmed, programmable or otherwise radio-frequency (RF) identification tag in the form of an RF transponder. Upon being energized by a suitable RF field provided by an RF reader antenna or sensor positioned adjacent the carrier'"'"'s intended path of movement, the tag transmits a unique identification code, such code being received by the antenna or sensor and decoded by the reader.

Claims

1. A specimen carrier adapted to be transported by an automated conveyor system while supporting a specimen container in a generally upright orientation, said specimen carrier comprising:

a unitary structure defining (i) a pedestal portion adapted to be engaged and manipulated by components of said automated conveyor system for the purpose of advancing the carrier along a desired path and for selectively rotating the carrier about a vertical axis, said pedestal portion comprising spaced apart upper and lower platforms interconnected by a stem; and

(ii) a container-retaining portion for receiving, supporting and retaining a specimen container in a desired orientation, said container-retaining portion comprising (a) a plurality of rigid members equally spaced from a central axis passing through the platforms and extending upwardly from the upper platform, and (b) a plurality of flexible fingers, one or more of said fingers extending angularly downward from a distal end portion of each rigid member, towards said central axis, each of said flexible fingers being adapted to engage and press upon the side wall of a container received by the carrier, said flexible fingers collectively defining a container site for receiving, centering and retaining specimen containers.

2. The specimen container carrier defined by claim 1 wherein said unitary structure further defines a chamber for housing a programmable radio-frequency (RF) identification tag in the form of an RF transponder.

3. The specimen container carrier defined by claim 2 wherein said chamber is formed in said pedestal portion.

4. The specimen container carrier defined by claim 1 wherein said chamber is formed in the lower platform of said pedestal portion.

5. The specimen container carrier defined by claim 1 wherein said unitary structure further defines a chamber in said lower platform of said pedestal portion, and wherein a radio-frequency (RF) identification tag in the form of an RF transponder is disposed in said chamber.

6. The specimen container carrier defined by claim 1 wherein said unitary structure is formed of an injection-moldable plastic.

7. The specimen container carrier defined by claim 1 wherein said container-retaining portion comprises four of said rigid members, and wherein each of said rigid members supports at least two of said fingers.

8. A specimen carrier adapted to be transported by an automated conveyor system while supporting a specimen container for processing, said specimen carrier comprising:

a unitary structure defining (i) a pedestal portion adapted to be engaged an manipulated by components of said automated conveyor system for the purpose of advancing the carrier along a desired path; and

(ii) a container-retaining portion for receiving, supporting and retaining a specimen container in a desired orientation, said unitary structure defining a chamber containing a programmable radio-frequency (RF) identification tag in the form of an RF transponder that is selectively energizable by RF electromagnetic energy.

9. An identification system for identifying specimen carriers moving along a desired path, each of said specimen carriers comprising a unitary structure defining a pedestal portion adapted to be engaged and manipulated by components of said automated conveyor system for the purpose of advancing the specimen carrier along said desired path, and a container-retaining portion for receiving, supporting and retaining a specimen container in a desired orientation, said unitary structure further defining a chamber therein;

said identification system comprising;

(a) a radio-frequency (RF) transponder disposed in each of the respective chambers of said specimen carriers, said RF transponder being selectively energizable by RF electromagnetic energy to transmit a unique identification code that differentiates each specimen carrier from all others; and

(b) a transceiver including a bobbin antenna for transmitting electromagnetic energy from a location immediately adjacent said desired path at an energy level and at a frequency adapted to selectively energize only one the RF transponders associated with a specimen carrier moving along said desired path.