Specimen container detection

• US 9,046,506 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Mller, Martin, Weihs, Andreas, Gunzer, Gerhard, Eberhardt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NAKHJAVAN, SHERVIN K
• Application Number:
  US13/671,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20130129166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/262 by using a centrifuge
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5021 Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes centrifuges B04B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 11/04 Periodical feeding or discharging; Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 13/00 Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Programme control of centrifuges control arrangements for feed, charge, or discharge B04B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 15/00 Other accessories for centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2009/143 by weight compensation with liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2011/046 Loading, unloading, manipulating sample containers
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2013/006 Interface detection or monitoring of separated components
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 7/02 Casings; Lids shock absorbers, vibration dampers F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 7/08 Rotary bowls centrifugal casting machines B22D
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 9/14 : Balancing rotary bowls balancing per se G01M; Schrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 9/146 : Unbalance detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/00 : Manipulators not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 : Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/108 : Devices, e.g. plates, presenting apertures through which the articles project
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/24 : combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/28 : during transit by a single conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 : for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/08 : for measuring diameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/10 : of objects while moving
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 : for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 : Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/292 : Light , e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/08 : Means for indicating or recording, e.g. for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/14 : Determining imbalance G01M1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00495 : Centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 : manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0462 : Buffers [FIFO] or stacks [LIFO] for holding carriers between operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0491 : Position sensing, encoding; closed-loop control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 : Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1032 : Dilution or aliquotting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 : using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00584 : Control arrangements for automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 : Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 : Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1009 : Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system is disclosed. The system includes at least one image acquisition device configured to obtain one or more images of sample containers in a sample container holder. It also includes an image analysis device coupled to the at least one image acquisition device. The image analysis device is configured to analyze, by a processor, the one or more images of the sample containers in the sample container holder, to determine (a) a presence or absence of sample containers at sample container holder locations in the sample container holder, and (b) sample container characteristics of the sample containers in the sample container holder, wherein the sample container characteristics include one or more of cap color, cap shape, labels and markers associated with the sample containers, or one or more sample container holder characteristics.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one image acquisition device configured to obtain one or more images of a sample container holder and a sample container in the sample container holder when positioned above the sample container holder, and wherein the sample container comprises a sample tube body and a sample tube cap including a tube cap indicator; and

an image analysis device comprising a processor, and coupled to the at least one image acquisition device and configured to analyze, by the processor, the one or more images of the sample container holder and the sample container in the sample container holder, to determine a status associated with the tube cap indicator of the sample tube cap,

wherein the tube cap indicator is either (a) a centrifugation indicator providing a visual mark, which changes appearance during centrifugation according to a centrifugation time and force, or (b) an urgent sample indicator comprising a visual marker, which indicates that a sample in the sample container body is to be processed urgently or non-urgently.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the centrifugation indicator or the urgent sample indicator is located at a top of the sample container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image acquisition device is mounted on a robotic arm having a gripper unit capable of gripping an object, wherein the robotic arm is capable of moving in three dimensions.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the image analysis device is further configured to analyze the one or more images of the sample container in the sample container holder to determine a characteristic of the sample container, wherein the characteristic is a cap color of the sample tube cap of the sample container.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one image acquisition device comprises at least three cameras configured to take images of at least three sample container holders holding sample containers, respectively.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the sample container holder holds a plurality of sample containers with different sample tube caps, the different sample tube caps having different cap shapes and different cap colors.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the image analysis device is further configured to analyze the one or more images of the sample container in the sample container holder, to determine characteristics of the sample container, wherein the characteristics of the sample container holder comprise a sample container holder size and a sample container holder color.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the tube cap indicator is the urgent sample indicator and comprises a movable sample status indicator.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the tube cap indicator is the centrifugation indicator, and includes a pressure sensitive device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the tube cap indicator is the centrifugation indicator and the centrifugation indicator comprises a gel.

11. A method comprising:

acquiring, by at least one image acquisition device, one or more images of a sample container holder and a sample container in the sample container holder, wherein the at least one image acquisition device is positioned above the sample container holder, and wherein the sample container comprises a sample tube body and a sample tube cap including a tube cap indicator; and

analyzing, by a processor in an image analysis device, at least one image to determine a status of the tube cap indicator of the sample tube cap, wherein the tube cap indicator is either (a) a centrifugation indicator, providing a visual mark, which changes appearance during centrifugation according to a centrifugation time and force, or (b) an urgent sample indicator, providing a visual marker, which is indicates that a sample in the sample container body is to be processed urgently or non-urgently.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the sample container is a first sample container containing a first sample, and wherein a second sample container comprising a second sample is in the sample container holder, wherein the first sample container is processed in a different manner than the second sample container, after analyzing the one or more images.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the tube cap indicator is the urgent sample indicator, which comprises a movable sample status indicator.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the centrifugation indicator or the urgent sample indicator is located at a top of the sample container.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the tube cap indicator is the centrifugation indicator, and comprises a gel.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the tube cap indicator is the centrifugation indicator, and comprises a pressure-sensitive film.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

moving a gripper attached to the image acquisition device in order to pick up the sample container after analyzing the one or more images.

18. A system comprising:

at least one image acquisition device configured to obtain one or more images of a sample container in a sample container holder when positioned above the sample container in the sample container holder; and

an image analysis device comprising a processor, and coupled to the at least one image acquisition device and configured to analyze, by the processor, the one or more images of the sample container in the sample container holder, to determine (a) a presence and a characteristic of the sample container holder, wherein the characteristic of sample container holder comprises a color or a shape of the sample container holder, or a label or marker associated with the sample container holder, and (b) a presence or absence, and a characteristic of the sample container in the sample container holder, wherein the characteristic of the sample container includes a color or shape of the sample container, or a label or marker associated with the sample container,

wherein the determination of the presence or absence of the sample container in the sample container holder includes determining the presence or absence of the sample container in a recess of the sample container holder by analyzing a shape of the recess or a color of a portion of the sample container holder forming the recess.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the determination of the presence or absence of the sample container in the sample container holder includes determining the presence or absence of the sample container in the recess of the sample container holder by analyzing the shape of the recess.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the image analysis device is configured to analyze, by the processor, the one or more images of the sample container holder and the sample container in the sample container holder, to determine (a) the characteristic of the sample container holder, wherein the characteristic of sample container holder comprises a color or shape of the sample container holder, and (b) the presence or absence of the sample container in the sample container holder.