Reagent and sample handling device for automatic testing system

• US 9,057,714 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Gomm, Cordell Kay, Luoma, Robert Paul II, Arnquist, David Charles, Johnson, Ryan Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon, Krishnan S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gerido, Dwan A
• Application Number:
  US12/612,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20100111765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/64, 422/65, 422/66
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00049 for loading/unloading a carousel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00316 Detecting door closure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00752 bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00891 Displaying information to the operator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0443 for reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0491 Position sensing, encoding; closed-loop control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00712 Automatic status testing, e.g. at start-up or periodic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00722 Communications; Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

A handling device for samples and reagents to be used in testing in a system. Carriers of samples and reagents are loaded on a platform which detects the presence of, and proper loading of, such carriers. The carriers are moved from the platform by a transporter to a bar code reader for identification. A reagent container is rotated during reading to facilitate identification. The transporter further moves identified reagent carriers to a carousel on which the carriers automatically secured for storage awaiting use in testing. The carousel rotates, and selected reagent containers rotate on the rotating carousel, during storage.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a loading platform;

a carrier couplable to the loading platform, the carrier comprising;

a base;

a first bottle seat rotatably coupled to the base to secure a first container to the base;

a pivot shaft extending through the base and coupled to the first bottle seat;

a first drive member coupled to the pivot shaft beneath the base to rotate the first bottle seat; and

a second bottle seat fixedly coupled to the base to secure a second container to the base;

a reader to read first identification indicia associated with the first container and second identification indicia associated with the second container;

a transporter to transport the carrier;

a second drive member positioned adjacent the reader; and

a controller to;

control the transporter to transport the carrier to a first position adjacent the reader to engage the first drive member with the second drive member; and

control the second drive member to rotate the first drive member when the first drive member is engaged with the second drive member to rotate the first container seated on the first bottle seat, while the second container is not rotated, to position the first identification indicia on the first container to be read by the reader.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first drive member is a gear.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first container or the second container is to hold a reagent.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage carousel to store a plurality of containers, wherein the transporter is to move the carrier between the loading platform and the carousel.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the storage carousel is rotatably drivable about an axis, and the carousel comprises a plurality of storage locations generally radially oriented relative to the axis.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a ring gear substantially centered on the axis to engage the first drive member of the carrier, whereby rotation of the carousel about the axis rotates the first bottle seat about the pivot shaft to agitate contents of the first container.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the carousel comprises a connector at each of a plurality of storage locations to couple a plurality of carriers to the carousel.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a release control to release at least one of the connectors to move at least one of the carriers from the carousel.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the connectors includes at least one pocket to receive a tab on the carrier to secure the carrier to the storage location.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the connector is biased in a first direction to guide the tab to the pocket.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a release control to move the connector in a second direction opposite the first direction to free the tab from the pocket.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the release control comprises a lever to be actuated by the transporter to move the connector in the second direction.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising a spring to bias the connector in the first direction.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first container has a first height, and the second container has a second height, the second height being greater than the first height.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier further comprises a detection element and the system comprises a detector to detect the detection element when the carrier is in proximity to the detector, and the transporter is enabled to load a second carrier when the detection element is not detected.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the detection element is a magnet.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the base includes an upwardly extending wall and the detection element is coupled to the wall.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the wall includes an extension to accommodate a human finger.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a position indicator to identify a position of the carrier relative to the platform.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the position indicator is pivotally coupled to the platform.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the first identification indicia is oriented horizontally around at least a portion of an outer surface of the first container and the second identification indicia is oriented vertically along at least a portion of an outer surface of the second container.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller is to:

control the transporter to transport the carrier to a second position, different than the first position, to present the second identification indicia on the second container to the reader to be read by the reader while the second container is not rotated.

23. A system comprising:

a loading platform;

a carrier couplable to the loading platform, the carrier comprising;

a base;

a first bottle seat rotatably coupled to the base to secure a first container to the base;

a pivot shaft extending through the base and coupled to the first bottle seat;

a first drive member coupled to the pivot shaft beneath the base to rotate the first bottle seat; and

a second bottle seat fixedly coupled to the base to secure a second container to the base;

a reader to read first identification indicia associated with the first container and second identification indicia associated with the second container;

a transporter to transport the carrier;

a second drive member positioned adjacent the reader; and

a controller to;

control the transporter to transport the carrier to (1) a first position where the second identification indicia on the second container is read by the reader, without rotating the second container, and (2) a second position where the first drive member is engaged with the second drive member; and

control the second drive member to rotate the first drive member when the carrier is in the second position to rotate the first container seated on the first bottle seat to position the first identification indicia on the first container to be read by the reader.