Sample handling system

• US 9,097,691 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Onizawa, Kuniaki, Obari, Koichi, Oizumi, Junichi, Oba, Shigemi, Abe, Tetsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHATLEY, BENJAMIN R
• Application Number:
  US12/121,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20080286162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,637 Days
• Field of Search: 422/62, 422/63, 422/65, 422/67, 422/99, 422/102, 422104-105, 422107-109, 422/68.1, 422/300, 436/43, 436/47, 436/48, 436/50, 436/55, 622/65, 622/66
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/1081 Storing samples under refrigeration
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00346 Heating or cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00445 Other cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0462 Buffers [FIFO] or stacks [LIFO] for holding carriers between operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/00 Comparing elements, i.e. elements for effecting comparison directly or indirectly between a desired value and existing or anticipated values

Abstract

A sample processing system is configured for analyzing, preprocessing, or carrying out other operations for a biological sample such as blood or urea. With the sample processing system, it is possible to store samples to be stored in a thermally insulated state or specimens required for accuracy control in the thermally insulated state for preventing evaporation or denaturing of the samples and specimens. Also it is possible to carry in or out the samples, rack by rack, according to necessity. Further, the sample processing system is provided with a buffer unit in a cold container having a capability for cold storage and also by accessing a sample rack at random for carrying in or out a rack with a transfer mechanism provided outside of the cold container.

Claims

1. A sample handling system comprising:

a sample processing unit for processing samples;

a buffer unit for temporarily holding sample racks holding the samples therein; and

a main transfer section for transferring the sample racks between the buffer unit and the sample processing unit,

wherein the buffer unit includes;

a buffer unit transfer section for transferring the sample racks within the buffer unit and to the main transfer section;

a cold storage section having a cold container with a thermally insulating function to hold first ones of the sample racks in a horizontal plane of the buffer unit, with thermal control, in a cooling condition and which have been temporarily held in the buffer unit;

a cooler on the cold container which maintains the first ones of the sample racks held in the cold container of the buffer unit in the cooling condition;

a buffer section for holding second ones of the sample racks in the horizontal plane of the buffer unit, the second ones of the sample racks excluding the first ones of the sample racks requiring the thermal control and placed in the cold container of the cold storage section of the buffer unit, and

wherein the buffer unit transfer section includes;

a rack transfer mechanism including a bucket for transferring the first ones of the sample racks between the cold container of the cold storage section, the buffer section of the buffer unit and the main transfer section; and

a carriage for transferring the first ones of the sample racks between the bucket and one of the buffer section and the cold container of the cold storage section.

2. The sample handling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooler is a Peltier unit.

3. The sample handling system according to claim 1, wherein an openable and closable door is provided on a surface of the cold container of the cold storage unit and the sample racks in the cold container can be accessed at random by the buffer unit transfer section using the openable and closable door.

4. The sample handling system according to claim 3, wherein a roller is provided in the cold container of the cold storage section.

5. The sample handling system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a door drive motor for opening and closing a door of the cold container of the cold storage section in synchronism to an operation for carrying in or out the first ones of the sample racks holding the samples therein and using said bucket.

6. The sample handling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooler is mounted to a surface of the cold container and further wherein a cold storage space for accommodating the first ones of the sample racks therein and a convection space for circulating air therein are provided in the cold container.