# US 10,481,170 B2 · Test tube rack of analyzer pipeline, shift detection method and device using the same

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- Number: US 10,481,170 B2
- Document ID: US10481170B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/198,436
- Filed: 2016-06-30
- Published: 2016-11-10
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-31
- Assignees: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Xiansuan Du; Lijian Hu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481170B2

## CPC

- G01N 35/021: {having a flexible chain, e.g. "cartridge belt", conveyor for reaction cells or cuvettes}
- A61B 8/0825: {for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography}
- A61B 8/13: Tomography (A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence)
- A61B 8/14: Echotomography
- A61B 8/4245: {involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient}
- A61B 8/4461: {Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe}
- A61B 8/52: {Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves}
- A61B 8/5215: {involving processing of medical diagnostic data}
- A61B 8/523: {for generating planar views from image data in a user selectable plane not corresponding to the acquisition plane}
- A61B 8/5269: {involving detection or reduction of artifacts}
- A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device}
- B01L 9/06: Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
- G01N 35/00594: {Quality control, including calibration or testing of components of the analyser}
- A61B 8/4427: {Device being portable or laptop-like}
- A61B 8/5292: {using additional data, e.g. patient information, image labeling, acquisition parameters}
- G01N 2035/0413: {moving in one dimension}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

## Abstract

A test tube rack of an analyzer pipeline includes multiple test tube holders for holding test tubes. The test tube rack of an analyzer pipeline comprises a light blocker configured at a side wall of the test tube rack and across multiple test tube holders. A second feature area is on the light blocker between two adjacent test tube holders, a first feature area is between two adjacent second feature areas and a step gap with a predetermined depth is between the first feature area and a second feature area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A detecting device for shift detection, comprising:
a test tube rack including a plurality of test tube holders for holding test tubes;
a drive component for driving the test tube rack;
a light blocker arranged on a surface of the test tube rack, the light blocker comprising a first feature area and a second feature area alternated with the first feature area, the first feature area and the second feature area optically blocking the test tubes, the second feature area having a depth different from the first feature area in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the test tube rack;
a reflective optical sensor for detecting a reflected signal from the first feature area and the second feature area of the light blocker to output a detection signal during a shifting process of the test tube rack by the drive component, a single test tube is shifted during the shifting process of the test tube rack;
a processor configured to acquire a stop voltage from the detection signal and a limit voltage from the detection signal during the shifting process, wherein the stop voltage is detected upon the test tube rack ending the shift, and the limit voltage is the maximum absolute value of voltage from the beginning to the end of the shift of the test tube rack; and the processor is further configured to determine whether a ratio of the limit voltage and the stop voltage satisfies a first condition; upon the determination that the first condition is satisfied, the shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as correct; otherwise, the shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as false.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The detecting device of claim 1, wherein the processor further acquires an initial voltage from the detection signal at the beginning of the shifting process of the test tube rack after the detection signal outputted from the sensor during the shifting process of the test tube rack is acquired; and further determines whether the ratio of the limit voltage and the stop voltage satisfies a first condition and also determines whether the ratio of the limit voltage and the initial voltage satisfies a second condition; if the first and second conditions are satisfied, the shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as correct; otherwise, the shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as false.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The detecting device of claim 2, wherein: the first condition is the ratio of the limit voltage and the stop voltage is larger than a first factor and the second condition is the ratio of the limit voltage and the initial voltage is larger than a second factor; or the first condition is the ratio of the limit voltage and the stop voltage is smaller than a first factor and the second condition is the ratio of the limit voltage and the initial voltage is smaller than a second factor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The detecting device of claim 1, wherein the processor further controls an output device to outputs a warning signal when the shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as false, or further controls the driving component to drive the test tube rack to conduct a re-shifting process after the shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as false, acquires a second detection signal outputted from the sensor during the re-shifting process and re-acquires an initial voltage, a stop voltage and a limit voltage for the re-shifting process by comparing the second detection signal acquired in a previous shifting process with the second detection signal acquired during the re-shifting process; wherein the processor further determines whether the ratio of the re-acquired limit voltage and the re-acquired stop voltage satisfies the first condition; if the first condition is satisfied, the re-shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as correct; otherwise, the processor further controls the test tube rack to repeat the re-shifting process until the re-shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as correct.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The detecting device of claim 2, wherein the processor further controls the output device to outputs a warning signal when the shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as false, or further controls the driving component to drive the test tube rack to conduct a re-shifting process after the shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as false, acquires a second detection signal outputted from the sensor during the re-shifting process and re-acquiring an initial voltage, a stop voltage and a limit voltage for the re-shifting process by comparing the second detection signal acquired in a previous shifting process with the second detection signal acquired during the re-shifting process; wherein the processor further determines whether the ratio of the re-acquired limit voltage and the re-acquired stop voltage satisfies the first condition and whether the ratio of the re-acquired limit voltage and the re-acquired initial voltage satisfies the second condition; if the first and the second conditions are satisfied, the re-shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as correct; otherwise, the processor further controls the test tube rack to repeat the re-shifting process until the re-shifting process of the test tube rack is determined as correct.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The detecting device of claim 4, wherein the processor re-acquiring an initial voltage, a stop voltage and a limit voltage for the re-shifting process comprises: acquiring the initial voltage, the stop voltage and the limit voltage from the second detection signal outputted from the sensor; comparing the initial voltage, the stop voltage and the limit voltage for the re-shifting process with the initial voltage, the stop voltage and the limit voltage acquired from a detection signal buffered in the previous shifting process; selecting a smaller one from the above two initial voltages as a present initial voltage; selecting a larger one from the above two limit voltages as a present limit voltage when the two limit voltages are maximum voltages, or selecting a smaller one from above two limit voltages as a present limit voltage when the two limit voltages are minimum voltages; selecting the re-acquired stop voltage acquired in the re-shifting process as a present end voltage; or integrating detection signals outputted from the sensor in several shifting processes in sequence to generate an integrated detection signal; and acquiring the initial voltage, the stop voltage and the limit voltage from the integrated detection signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The detecting device of claim 1, further comprising a driving circuit between the sensor and the processor for driving the sensor to emit the detection signal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The detecting device of claim 1, further comprising an amplifier between the sensor and the processor to generate an amplified detection signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The detecting device of claim 8, further comprising a digital filter between the amplifier and the processor to generate a filtered detection signal from the amplified detection signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The detecting device of claim 1, wherein the driving component comprises a step motor.