Method of evaporation control of a sample stored in a cold container
First Claim
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1. A method of evaporation control of a sample stored in a cold container, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cooler for the cold container and using the cooler for controlling a temperature in the cold container using a temperature control;
storing a plurality of separate individual sample container racks in the cold container;
providing a sample handling unit including a rack transfer mechanism having a rack holding bucket and a carriage to transfer the rack to or from the rack holding bucket;
using the rack transfer mechanism for accessing selected ones of the sample container racks in the cold container;
carrying a selected one of the sample container racks out of the cold container using the sample handling unit using the rack transfer mechanism;
measuring, by an operating system including a computer, an elapsed time starting from a time when the sample in the selected sample container rack is carried out from the cold container by the sample handling unit;
storing a first preset time in the operating system of the computer, wherein the operating system is configured to compare the measured elapsed time starting from the time the sample in the selected sample container rack is carried out from the cold container with the first preset time stored in the operating system; and
returning the selected sample container rack into the cold container, using the sample handling unit, in response to determining, using the operating system, that the measured elapsed time starting from the time that sample container rack is carried out from the cold container, is less than the first preset time stored in the operating system.
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Abstract
A method of evaporation control of a sample which is stored in a thermally insulated state is configured for preventing evaporation or denaturing of the samples and specimens. The method includes carrying the samples contained in individual containers out from a cold container having a capability of cold storage. An elapsed time that each sample container has been removed from the cold container is measured and is compared with a preset time. If the elapsed time is less than the preset time, the sample container can be returned to the cold container. An alarm is output if the elapsed time exceeds the preset time.
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4 Claims
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1. A method of evaporation control of a sample stored in a cold container, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a cooler for the cold container and using the cooler for controlling a temperature in the cold container using a temperature control; storing a plurality of separate individual sample container racks in the cold container; providing a sample handling unit including a rack transfer mechanism having a rack holding bucket and a carriage to transfer the rack to or from the rack holding bucket; using the rack transfer mechanism for accessing selected ones of the sample container racks in the cold container; carrying a selected one of the sample container racks out of the cold container using the sample handling unit using the rack transfer mechanism; measuring, by an operating system including a computer, an elapsed time starting from a time when the sample in the selected sample container rack is carried out from the cold container by the sample handling unit; storing a first preset time in the operating system of the computer, wherein the operating system is configured to compare the measured elapsed time starting from the time the sample in the selected sample container rack is carried out from the cold container with the first preset time stored in the operating system; and returning the selected sample container rack into the cold container, using the sample handling unit, in response to determining, using the operating system, that the measured elapsed time starting from the time that sample container rack is carried out from the cold container, is less than the first preset time stored in the operating system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification