System and method for processing samples

• US 9,910,054 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Johns, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, David A
• Application Number:
  US14/356,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20140305227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• 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 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 23/292 : Light , e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
• 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: 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

An analytical laboratory system and method for processing samples is disclosed. The system includes a manager unit, as well as an aliquotter unit and a centrifuge unit.

Claims

1. A method of handling a sample container within a laboratory automation system, comprising:

gripping a sample container positioned in an input module for transport from said input module to a distribution area with a first gripper;

detecting information about the sample container with an instrument associated with the first gripper, which information includes determining a level of one or more liquids of a sample in said sample container and capturing an image of said sample container; and

transporting with the first gripper the sample container from said input module to said distribution area;

gripping the sample container positioned in the distribution area with a second gripper;

transporting with the second gripper the sample container from the distribution area to at least one of a centrifuge adapter, a carrier on a conveyance system, and an error area;

requesting a sample schedule associated with the sample in the sample container, wherein the sample schedule is requested from a scheduling system based on;

data obtained by detecting information step, and

test information associated with the sample; and

determining, by the scheduling system, a time when the sample container containing the sample should be removed from the distribution area for further processing;

determining whether an error is associated with the sample;

when an error is associated with the sample, transporting the sample container to an error area; and

when no error is associated with the sample, transporting the sample container, based on the obtained sample schedule, via a second gripper, from the distribution area to a subsequent processing module in the laboratory automation system at the time determined by the scheduling system, wherein;

when the subsequent processing module is a centrifuge unit having a centrifuge rotor, placing the sample container by said second gripper into an adapter of a centrifuge based upon calculated estimate of a total sample container weight for balance of the centrifuge rotor and/or based on a sample priority; and

when the subsequent processing module is not a centrifuge unit, transporting the sample container, by said second gripper, into a carrier on a conveyance system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, during the transporting of the sample container, the level of the one or more liquids of the sample are measured and an image of the sample container is captured.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, based on the determined level of the one or more liquids, volumes of one or more components of the sample are determined.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting information includes the use of an emitter and a receiver, wherein the emitter and the receiver are used for a measurement to determine one or more liquid levels of the sample.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the captured image to determine at least one of a manufacturer of the sample container, a diameter of the sample container, a height of the sample container, a color of a sample container cap, a shape of the sample container cap, a presence of a marker and a presence of a label.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising calculating an estimate of a total sample container weight based on:

the determined level of the one or more liquids of the sample, and

the analysis of the captured image.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein, if the subsequent processing module is a centrifuge unit:

transporting, by a shuttle, the centrifuge adapter from the distribution area to the centrifuge unit, and

transferring, by a third gripper, the centrifuge adapter to a bucket of the centrifuge.

8. A laboratory automation system for handling sample containers, comprising:

an input module configured to receive sample containers into the laboratory automation system;

a distribution area, configured as a holding area for the sample containers;

a first gripper, for gripping the sample container from the input module and transporting a sample container to the distribution area;

an instrument associated with said first gripper for detecting information about the sample container, wherein the information includes one or more liquid levels of a sample contained in the sample container and an image of the sample container;

a conveyance system;

an error area;

at least one centrifuge adapter;

a scheduling system for determining a sample schedule associated with the sample, wherein the sample schedule is based at least in part on;

the information obtained by the instrument for detecting information, and

test information associated with the sample; and

a second gripper, configured to transport the sample container from the distribution area to at least one of the centrifuge adapter, a carrier on the conveyance system, and the error area, wherein the second gripper transports the sample container at a time determined using the sample schedule.

9. The laboratory automation system of claim 8, wherein the information detecting instrument is capable of, during the transport of the sample container from the input module to the distribution area:

determining one or more liquid levels of the sample, and

capturing at least one image of the sample container.

10. The laboratory automation system of claim 8, wherein:

the information detecting instrument includes an emitter and a receiver for determining the one or more liquid levels of said sample; and

the emitter and the receiver are used for a measurement to determine one or more liquid levels of the sample.

11. The laboratory automation system of claim 8, further comprising:

a centrifuge unit including a centrifuge; and

a centrifuge adapter shuttle that transports centrifuge adapters between the distribution area and the centrifuge unit.

12. The laboratory automation system of claim 11, further comprising a third gripper that transfers centrifuge adapters to and from a bucket of the centrifuge.