Method and apparatus for automated pre-treatment and processing of biological samples
First Claim
1. An apparatus for automated processing of a plurality of biological samples on sample carriers having respective identifications, the processing of each sample being conducted according to a respective sequence of protocol steps, said apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
a plurality of drawers within the frame, each drawer comprising a respective carrier rack for supporting at least one carrier; and
a robotic reagent dispensing head within the frame that performs ongoing robotic processing, including dispensing of reagents, according to the protocol steps; and
a sensor for reading the identifications,wherein a first sample, in a first drawer, for which the processing is completed may be removed from the apparatus without interrupting the ongoing robotic processing of a second sample in a second drawer, andwherein a second sample, in a second drawer, may be inserted into the apparatus without interrupting the dispensing of reagents onto a first sample, in a first drawer, with the robotic reagent dispensing head.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for automatic processing a biological sample on a carrier, perhaps robotically, by applying predetermined amounts of reagents in a predetermined sequence according to a processing protocol, the processing including pre-treatment steps, under the control of an adaptive processing control system using a sample process parameter input that may be independent and an independent process parameter memory that does not interrupt process operation when being used, such that samples may be added or removed without interrupting the processing of other samples. Also included is an image capture function for sample and reagent identification and process monitoring, as well as temperature regulation and environmental control functions.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for automated processing of a plurality of biological samples on sample carriers having respective identifications, the processing of each sample being conducted according to a respective sequence of protocol steps, said apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a plurality of drawers within the frame, each drawer comprising a respective carrier rack for supporting at least one carrier; and a robotic reagent dispensing head within the frame that performs ongoing robotic processing, including dispensing of reagents, according to the protocol steps; and a sensor for reading the identifications, wherein a first sample, in a first drawer, for which the processing is completed may be removed from the apparatus without interrupting the ongoing robotic processing of a second sample in a second drawer, and wherein a second sample, in a second drawer, may be inserted into the apparatus without interrupting the dispensing of reagents onto a first sample, in a first drawer, with the robotic reagent dispensing head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of processing of a plurality of biological samples on sample carriers having respective identifications, the processing of each sample being conducted according to a respective sequence of protocol steps, comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus comprising; a frame; a robotic reagent dispensing head within the frame that performs ongoing robotic processing, including dispensing of reagents; and a plurality of drawers within the frame, each drawer comprising a respective carrier rack for supporting at least one carrier; and inserting a first carrier having a first biological sample onto a carrier rack of a first drawer; inserting a second carrier having a second biological sample onto a carrier rack of a second drawer; determining the first-completed sample, being whichever one of the first biological sample and the second biological sample whose processing is completed prior to the completion of the processing of the other biological sample; removing the first-completed sample from the apparatus without interrupting the dispensing of reagents onto the other biological sample. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of processing of a plurality of biological samples on sample carriers having respective identifications, the processing of each sample being conducted according to a respective sequence of protocol steps, comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus comprising; a frame; a robotic reagent dispensing head within the frame that performs ongoing robotic processing, including dispensing of reagents; and a plurality of drawers within the frame, each drawer comprising a respective carrier rack for supporting at least one carrier; and inserting a first carrier having a first biological sample onto a carrier rack of a first drawer; commencing the processing of the first biological sample; inserting a second carrier having a second biological sample onto a carrier rack of a second drawer without interrupting the dispensing of reagents onto the first biological sample with the robotic reagent dispensing head; removing the first carrier from the carrier rack of the first drawer without interrupting the ongoing robotic processing of the second biological sample; and commencing the processing of the second biological sample, prior to completion of the processing of the first biological sample, without interrupting the processing of the first biological sample. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification