Laboratory sample distribution system and method for calibrating magnetic sensors

• US 9,593,970 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Sinz, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): Deuble, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US14/840,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20160069715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 198/619
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/02 electrostatic, electric, or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0477 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0493 Locating samples; identifying different tube sizes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00 Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0035 Calibration of single magnetic sensors, e.g. integrated calibration

Abstract

A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a calibration device, a calibration device and a method for calibrating magnetic sensors are disclosed. Magnetic sensors used in a laboratory sample distribution system are calibrated in order to optimize driving of sample container carriers and in order to detect long-term variation in detection characteristics of the magnetic sensors.

Claims

1. A laboratory sample distribution system, the laboratory sample distribution system comprising:

a plurality of sample container carriers, wherein each sample container carrier carries one or more sample containers and comprises at least one magnetically active device;

a transport plane to support the sample container carriers;

a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane, wherein the electro-magnetic actuators move the sample container carriers on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the sample container carriers;

a plurality of magnetic sensors distributed over the transport plane;

a control unit to control the movement of the sample container carriers on top of the transport plane using signals provided by the magnetic sensors by driving the electro-magnetic actuators such that the sample container carriers move along corresponding transport paths;

a calibration device, wherein the calibration device comprises,

a magnetic calibration element causing a magnetic calibration field, and

a driver to change a distance between the magnetic calibration element and a magnetic sensor;

a position determining device to determine the distance between the magnetic calibration element and a respective magnetic sensor; and

a calibration control unit, wherein the calibration control unit is configured to monitor signals received from the magnetic sensors while the distance between the magnetic calibration element and a respective magnetic sensor changes, and wherein the calibration control unit is configured to determine magnetic sensor parameters for each of the magnetic sensors in response to the signals received from the magnetic sensors and the determined distance.

2. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the driver moves the calibration device on the transport plane independently of the electro-magnetic actuators.

3. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, the position determining device determines a position of the calibration device on the transport plane independently of the magnetic sensors.

4. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the position determining device comprises at least one laser emitting device and at least one laser detecting device adapted to determine laser radiation emitted from the laser emitting device.

5. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 4, wherein the position determining device determines the position of the calibration device based on the determined laser radiation.

6. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the calibration control unit is configured to effect movement of the calibration device on the transport plane and to monitor the position of the calibration device using the position determining device.

7. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the calibration control unit is configured to monitor signals received from the magnetic sensors while the calibration device is moving over the transport plane and is configured to determine the magnetic sensor parameters for each of the magnetic sensors in response to the signals received from the magnetic sensors and the determined position of the calibration device.

8. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein each of the magnetic sensors is configured to deliver a presence signal, if the magnetic calibration element is present within a specific area covering the magnetic sensor and/or within a specific vertical distance from the magnetic sensor.

9. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the calibration control unit is configured to determine the magnetic sensor parameters for each of the magnetic sensors in response to the presence signals and the determined distance.

10. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the calibration device comprises a holder to support the magnetic calibration element and to move the magnetic calibration element in a vertical direction.

11. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 10, wherein the holder moves the magnetic calibration element in the vertical direction responsive to a signal received from the calibration control unit.

12. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensors are Hall-sensors.

13. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the movement of the sample container carriers on top of the transport plane using the signals provided by the magnetic sensors and using the magnetic sensor parameters.

14. A method for calibrating magnetic sensors of a sample distribution system according to claim 1, the method comprising:

providing the calibration device on the transport plane;

changing a distance between the magnetic calibration element and a respective magnetic sensor;

determining the distance between the magnetic calibration element and the respective magnetic sensor;

monitoring a signal received from the respective magnetic sensor while the distance between the magnetic calibration element and the respective magnetic sensor changes; and

determining magnetic sensor parameters for the respective magnetic sensor in response to the signals received from the respective magnetic sensor and the determined distance.