Linear random access queue

• US 9,511,947 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Pollack, Benjamin Samuel, Mellars, Colin, Yagci, Baris
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis, Robert R
• Application Number:
  US14/402,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20150166265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/00 Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0094 optimisation; experiment design
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0462 Buffers [FIFO] or stacks [LIFO] for holding carriers between operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0472 for selective recirculation of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0095 introducing urgent samples with priority, e.g. Short Turn Around Time Samples [STATS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing queues of sample carriers in a bidirectional track allow queues to behave as linear FIFO queues while providing random access to samples by resorting samples in the queue. One or more storage positions to allow sample carriers to be selectively removed and reinserted into the queue, allowing the order of sample carriers to be resorted.

Claims

1. An automation system for use with an automated clinical analyzer comprising:

a bidirectional track;

a plurality of sample carriers configured to move along the bidirectional track;

at least one storage location accessible to the bidirectional track; and

a processor configured to sort the plurality of sample carriers by directing the carriers along the bidirectional track, and by directing at least one sample carrier into and out of the storage location to change the order of carriers with respect to the bidirectional track;

wherein the processor is configured to use an insertion sort algorithm to sort the plurality of sample carriers.

2. The automation system of claim 1, wherein at least one location of the directional track is accessible to a pipette.

3. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the storage location is configured to allow a pipette to interact with a sample carried by the at least one sample carrier.

4. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to use a heapsort algorithm to sort the plurality of sample carriers.

5. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage location comprises multiple storage locations spaced apart along the bidirectional track.

6. The automation system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to use the multiple storage locations to sort a queue of sample carriers that is longer than the distance between two adjacent storage locations.

7. The automation system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to use the multiple storage locations to sort a queue of sample carriers that is longer than the distance between at least one storage location and an end of the bidirectional track.

8. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage location is configured to store more than one of the plurality of sample carriers simultaneously.

9. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage location comprises a track section that is perpendicular to the bidirectional track.

10. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage location comprises a storage area that is accessible to the bidirectional track via at least one curved section of track.

11. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the bidirectional track comprises a friction track.

12. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the bidirectional track comprises a track section having electromagnetic coils to move each sample carrier.

13. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sample carriers are configured to be independently movable.