System and method for automated sample preparation

• US 9,931,644 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2016
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Bailey, Kevin, Embres, Christopher, Gorelick, Donald, Hansen, Timothy R., Livingston, Dwight, Scherz, Andre, Sevigny, Gerard, Talmer, Mark, Zhou, Tong, Lovette, Spencer
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, P. Kathryn
• Application Number:
  US15/192,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20160318040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 43/00 Separating particles from liquids, or liquids from solids, otherwise than by sedimentation or filtration flotation processes B03D1/00; drying solid materials or objects F26B
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 11/043 Load indication with or without control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 5/0414 comprising test tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00495 Centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A system for automatically processing a biological specimen is provided that includes an elevator comprising a plurality of shelves configured to receive a plurality of sample trays. The trays may comprise a plurality of sample containers containing a sample and having a plurality of respective caps engaged therewith. The trays may further include a plurality of centrifuge tube racks each containing a plurality of centrifuge tubes. The system may include a first transport mechanism, a second transport mechanism and a third transport mechanism. The system may include a chain-of-custody device configured to read identifiers on each of the containers. The system may also include a pipetting device configured to remove a portion from the sample containers and dispense the sample into the centrifuge tubes.

Claims

1. A method for automated sample preparation comprising:

providing a plurality of trays, the trays carrying;

at least one sample container containing a sample and having a respective cap engaged therewith; and

at least one centrifuge tube rack carrying a plurality of centrifuge tubes;

automatically transporting the trays to a processing deck;

automatically reading an identifier on the at least one sample container wherein reading the identifier on the sample container further comprises reading the identifier at a first processing location with a chain-of-custody device;

automatically removing the cap from the respective sample container;

automatically removing a portion of the sample from the at least one de-capped sample container;

automatically dispensing the removed portion of the sample into one of the plurality of centrifuge tubes;

automatically transporting the at least one centrifuge tube rack to a centrifuge device;

automatically centrifuging the centrifuge tube containing the sample with the centrifuge device;

conveying the trays between a first processing location and a second processing location along a Y-direction with a first transport mechanism,

wherein one of the trays is located at the first processing location when automatically removing the cap from the respective sample container, and

wherein one of the trays is located at the second processing location when it is accessible by a second transport mechanism, the second transport mechanism transporting the at least one centrifuge tube rack to the centrifuge device;

transporting the at least one centrifuge tube rack from the centrifuge device to one of the trays located on the processing deck with a third transport mechanism;

transporting one of the trays from the processing deck to a location external to an elevator reachable by a first transport mechanism with a second transport mechanism; and

transporting one of the trays from the location external to the elevator reachable by the first transport mechanism into the elevator with the first transport mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trays also carry at least one molecular tube having a respective cap engaged therewith.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising removing the cap from the at least one molecular tube with a de-capping device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising removing a portion of the sample from the at least one de-capped sample container with a pipetting device and dispensing the removed portion into the at least one de-capped molecular tube.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the cap from the at least one sample container while the at least one sample container is disposed within one of the trays.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting at least one of the plurality of centrifuge tubes from the centrifuge device to an aspirating and decanting device following the centrifuge operation for aspirating or decanting the at least one of the plurality of centrifuge tubes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically transporting the trays to the processing deck further comprises engaging a bottom surface of the trays, one at a time, with a transport mechanism, and moving the trays in both an X-direction and a Z-direction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting at least one of the plurality of centrifuge tubes from the tray at the second processing location to the centrifuge device in both an X-direction and a Z-direction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing each of the at least one centrifuge tube rack within at least one of the trays at an angle of between about 13 and about 15 degrees relative to an axis transverse to a bottom surface of the tray.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting the trays between a first processing location and a second processing location to facilitate access to each of the at least one centrifuge tube rack and plurality of centrifuge tubes with a transport mechanism.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading an identifier on the trays and the at least one centrifuge tube rack in an elevator with a chain-of custody device prior to transporting the trays to the processing deck.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether each of the plurality of centrifuge tubes and the at least one centrifuge tube rack are properly positioned within the trays with the chain-of custody device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising reading an identifier on each of the plurality of centrifuge tubes with a second chain-of custody device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

engaging a disposable syringe disposed in one of the trays; and

after automatically removing the cap from the sample container, removing a portion of the sample from the de-capped sample container with the disposable syringe.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising disengaging the disposable syringe following use.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing the sample in the de-capped container prior to removing the portion of the sample from the decapped sample container.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising simultaneously removing a plurality of caps from a plurality of respective sample containers at a first processing location with a de-capping device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising simultaneously removing a portion of the sample from each of the de-capped plurality of containers and simultaneously dispensing the removed portion of the sample into a plurality of centrifuge tubes disposed in a plurality of centrifuge tube racks with a pipetting device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising supporting at least one of the plurality of trays on each shelf of a plurality of shelves in an elevator prior to transporting the plurality of trays to the processing deck.