Aliquotter system and workflow

• US 9,506,943 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Mller, Martin, Johns, Charles W., Eberhardt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHATLEY, BENJAMIN R
• Application Number:
  US13/671,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/262 by using a centrifuge
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5021 Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes centrifuges B04B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 11/04 Periodical feeding or discharging; Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 13/00 Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Programme control of centrifuges control arrangements for feed, charge, or discharge B04B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 15/00 Other accessories for centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2009/143 by weight compensation with liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2011/046 Loading, unloading, manipulating sample containers
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2013/006 Interface detection or monitoring of separated components
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 7/02 Casings; Lids shock absorbers, vibration dampers F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 7/08 Rotary bowls centrifugal casting machines B22D
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 9/14 Balancing rotary bowls balancing per se G01M; Schrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 9/146 Unbalance detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/00 Manipulators not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/24 combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0261 Puck as article support
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/28 during transit by a single conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/08 for measuring diameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/10 of objects while moving
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 : Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 : Arrangements for signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/08 : Means for indicating or recording, e.g. for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/14 : Determining imbalance G01M1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/32 : by adding material to the body to be tested, e.g. by correcting-weights
• 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 2035/0462 : Buffers [FIFO] or stacks [LIFO] for holding carriers between operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0489 : Self-propelled units
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0491 : Position sensing, encoding; closed-loop control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 : Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1032 : Dilution or aliquotting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 : using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00584 : Control arrangements for automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 : Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 : Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1009 : Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system is disclosed. The system includes an aliquotter module. The aliquotter module includes a track including: a travel lane; a first loop; and a second loop configured to transport sample carriers with primary sample containers. The aliquotter module can further include a pipettor that can aspirate a first aliquot volume of a sample in a primary sample container located in an aspiration position and dispense the first aliquot volume of the sample in a secondary sample container located in a dispensing position. The aliquotter module can cause the secondary sample container to leave the aliquotter module before the primary sample container.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an aliquotter module comprising

a track comprising

a travel lane configured to transport sample carriers with primary sample containers and sample carriers with secondary sample containers,

a first loop configured to transport empty sample carriers, sample carriers with empty secondary sample containers and sample carriers with secondary sample containers comprising sample aliquots, wherein the first loop is connected to the travel lane such that the sample carriers can enter the first loop from the travel lane and leave the first loop onto the travel lane, and

a second loop configured to transport sample carriers with primary sample containers, wherein the second loop is connected to the travel lane such that sample carriers can enter the second loop from the travel lane and leave the second loop onto the travel lane, and

a pipettor,

a processor configured to control the pipettor to aspirate a first aliquot volume of a sample in a primary sample container located in an aspiration position and dispense the first aliquot volume of the sample in a secondary sample container located in a dispensing position, wherein the first loop does not include the aspiration position, and wherein the first loop includes the dispensing position, and

the processor further configured to control the aliquotter module to cause the secondary sample container to return to the travel lane before the primary sample container returns to the travel lane.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the track comprises a common track portion connecting to the first loop and the second loop.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first rotatable gateway device proximate the travel lane and the first loop; and

a second rotatable gateway device proximate the travel lane and the second loop,

wherein the first rotatable gateway device is operable to transfer a sample carrier from the travel lane to the first loop and from the first loop to the travel lane, and

wherein the second rotatable gateway device is operable to transfer a sample carrier from the travel lane to the second loop and from the second loop to the travel lane.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second rotatable gateway devices comprise a disk-like object having a crescent shape with a concave surface for receiving a circular edge of a sample carrier.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first loop and the second loop are circular endless loops, having no common track portion connecting to the travel lane.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising sample carriers, wherein the sample carriers are independently movable carriers.