Method of configuring a laboratory automation system, laboratory sample distribution system and laboratory automation system

• US 9,902,572 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Mahmudimanesh, Mohammadreza, Sinz, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): Deuble, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US15/272,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20170096307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 198619, 422 63, 422 65
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 19/02 for articles, e.g. for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/00 Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/02 electrostatic, electric, or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0477 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0491 Position sensing, encoding; closed-loop control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0493 Locating samples; identifying different tube sizes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A method of configuring a laboratory automation system is presented. The position of a laboratory station is detected automatically. A laboratory sample distribution system and a laboratory automation system adapted to perform such a method are also presented.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a laboratory automation system, the laboratory automation system comprising a laboratory sample distribution system and at least one laboratory station, wherein the laboratory station has a handover position and the laboratory sample distribution system comprises a number of sample container carriers adapted to carry one or more sample containers, wherein each sample container carrier comprises at least one magnetically active device, a transport plane adapted to support the sample container carriers, a number of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane, the electro-magnetic actuators adapted to move sample container carriers on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the sample container carriers, a number of position sensors distributed over the transport plane and adapted to sense magnetic fields generated by the magnetically active devices, and a control device configured to control the movement of the sample container carriers on top of the transport plane by driving the electro-magnetic actuators such that the sample container carriers move along corresponding transport paths, wherein the laboratory station is placed adjacent to the transport plane, the method comprising:

placing a reference magnet in a specified position relationship with the handover position of the laboratory station over the transport plane;

detecting the position of the reference magnet on the transport plane using the position sensors; and

determining one of the electro-magnetic actuators as a handover electro-magnetic actuator based on the detected position.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the reference magnet is determined in the same way as a position of the sample container carriers.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the reference magnet is determined by the control device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference magnet is part of the laboratory station.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference magnet is part of a position determining device held by a gripping device of the laboratory station.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising, placing the position determining device in the specified position relationship using the gripping device before detecting the position.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the position is performed after an input to the control device indicating final placement of the laboratory station.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the handover position is a position configured to transfer samples or sample containers between the laboratory station and the transport plane.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the handover electro-magnetic actuator is configured such that sample containers or sample container carriers are moved to the handover electro-magnetic actuator for transfer of samples or sample containers between the laboratory station and the transport plane.

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

a number of sample container carriers adapted to carry one or more sample containers, wherein each sample container carrier comprises at least one magnetically active device;

a transport plane adapted to support the sample container carriers;

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

a number of position sensors distributed over the transport plane and adapted to sense magnetic fields generated by the magnetically active devices; and

a control device configured to control the movement of the sample container carriers on top of the transport plane by driving the electro-magnetic actuators such that the sample container carriers move along corresponding transport paths, wherein the control device is configured to perform a method according to claim 1.

11. A laboratory automation system comprising a laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 10 and at least one laboratory station.

12. A laboratory automation system, wherein the laboratory automation system is configured using a method according to claim 1.