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US 11,378,583 B2Granted
Automated clinical analyzer system and method
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
InventorsDavid Stein, Roy Barr, Mark Edwards, Colin Mellars, Thomas J. Bao, Charles V. Cammarata, Benjamin S. Pollack, Baris Yagci, Beri Cohen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An analyzer system for in vitro diagnostics includes a sample handler module having a robot arm that delivers samples from drawers into carriers on a linear synchronous motor automation track. Samples are delivered via the automation track to individual track sections associated with individual analyzer modules. Analyzer modules aspirate sample portions directly from the sample carriers and perform analysis thereon.
Claims22
An analyzer system for use in an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) environment comprising:
- a sample handler module comprising
- one or more drawers located at a front of the sample handler module accessible to an operator that are configured to accept a plurality of trays holding a plurality of patient sample tubes,
- a plurality of cameras that record overhead images of sample tubes in the drawers, as the drawers are closed by the operator,
- a covered refrigerated storage, separate from the one or more drawers, configured to store a plurality of tubes of control and calibrator fluids for multiple days,
- a robot arm configured to move patient sample tubes to and from the drawers and tubes of control and calibrator fluids to and from the covered refrigerated storage;
- one or more analyzer modules configured to aspirate, using at least one pipette, a portion of a patient sample from each of the plurality of patient samples and perform a clinical analysis of at least one of clinical chemistry characteristics and immunoassay characteristics of that patient sample;
- a plurality of sample carriers configured to accept at least one of the plurality of patient samples and the plurality of tubes of control and calibrator fluids, each carrier having magnets in the base thereof;
- and
- an automation track comprising a plurality of track sections forming a plurality of branches, each track section having a surface that includes a plurality of synchronously controlled magnetic coils, wherein the automation track is configured to move the plurality of patient sample tubes in the plurality of sample carriers via the synchronously controlled magnetic coils to propel the plurality of sample carriers along the plurality of track sections, and wherein the automation track is configured to receive each of the plurality of patient sample tubes and tubes of control and calibrator fluids from the robot arm and to move each tube to a first location on the automation track accessible to the at least one pipette of the one or more analyzer modules, to facilitate aspiration of the portion of the patient sample,
- wherein the covered refrigerated storage comprises a refrigerated assembly, a lid, and a plurality of movable evaporation covers that are configured to limit evaporation from the plurality of tubes of control and calibrator fluids without directly contacting each tube.
7 more elements
A method for analyzing patient samples comprising steps of:
- receiving, at a sample handler module, a plurality of trays holding a plurality of patient sample tubes via one or more drawers located at a front of the sample handler module that is accessible to an operator and comprises covered refrigerated storage, separated from the rest of the sample handler module, configured to store a plurality of tubes of control and calibrator fluids for multiple days in a location separate from patient samples;
- capturing a plurality of images of the plurality of sample tubes, using a plurality of overhead cameras, as each of the one or more drawers is closed;
- and
- analyzing the plurality of images to determine physical characteristics of each of plurality of sample tubes;
- providing an automation track that propels a plurality of sample carriers having magnets in a base of each sample carrier using coils in a surface of the automation track;
- positioning, via the automation track, a first carrier of the plurality of carriers at a first location on the automation track that is accessible to a robot arm of the sample handler module;
- removing a first sample from the plurality of trays using the robot arm;
- placing the first sample in the first carrier;
- positioning, via the automation track, the first carrier at a second location accessible to a pipette controlled by a first analyzer module of a set of one or more analyzer modules;
- aspirating, using the pipette, a portion of the sample while the sample is stopped, via the automation track, at the second location;
- performing, by the first analyzer module, a clinical analysis of at least one of clinical chemistry characteristics and immunoassay characteristics of that patient sample;
- opening a lid of the covered refrigerated storage and removing, using the robot arm, an evaporation cover that covers a first tube of the plurality of tubes of control and calibrator fluids that limits evaporation of the fluid contained therein without the cover touching the first tube;
- and
- repeating the steps of positioning using the robot arm, placing in the first carrier, and aspirating, using the first tube of the plurality of tubes of control and calibrator fluids.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.