US 12,228,483 B2Granted

System and method for the automated preparation of biological samples

AssigneeBd Kiestra B.V.

InventorsMartijn Xander Berntsen, Martijn Kleefstra, Roger Petri, Tino Walter Van Der Zee

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The present invention describes an automated platform for inoculating a variety of receptacles with biological samples for testing and analysis. The lab automation system includes a plurality of modules used to automate the inoculation of media for subsequent analysis. In this regard, the lab automation system has one module to enter specimen/order information and store an inventory of petri dishes. Another module is used to label the sample receptacles with a unique identifier that associates the receptacles with the sample. Yet another module includes a robot for retrieving sample and inoculating the receptacles. The sample inoculation module also includes an apparatus that will receive slides, inoculate those slides, and further process the slides for analysis. Finally, the lab automation system includes a module that streaks the culture media with the sample. Thus, the automated lab system described herein provides consistent samples with minimal input from a lab operator.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An automated sample preparation module comprising:

a receptacle cartridge having a plurality of compartments, each compartment configured as a slot that receives and supports a single slide inoculated with a sample;
a receptacle cartridge holder into which the receptacle cartridge is received, wherein the receptacle cartridge holder is fixed in position in a recessed compartment and includes a heater configured to heat slides carried into the receptacle cartridge holder by the receptacle cartridge;
an automated arm mechanism configured to move slides into and out of an individual compartment of the plurality of compartments in the receptacle cartridge;
and
a reader positioned to read an identifier on at least one of the slides, wherein the arm mechanism comprises a body and a slide arm comprising a flat surface for receiving a slide thereon, the slide arm also being configured to move vertically to advance a slide into proximity with the reader wherein the arm mechanism further comprises a sensor positioned to detect a presence of at least one slide on the flat surface of the slide arm.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/235,171Filed 20 Apr 2021 · division
Priority: 1 Apr 2014
Published: US 2021/0239582 A15 Aug 2021
Granted: 18 Feb 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

G01N 1/312
Apparatus therefor: for samples mounted on planar substrates
G01N 35/00029
Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor:…
G01N 35/021
Using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations: having a flexible chain, e.g.…
G01N 35/04
Using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations: details of the conveyor system

Family

Application61/973,551Us provisional application · filed 1 Apr 2014
Application14/674,827Parent of this division · filed 31 Mar 2015
US 2021/0239582 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Aug 2021
US 11,016,007 B2Parent of this division
US 2015/0276566 A1Published application
US 12,228,483 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.