Automated system for quantitative collection and extraction of a fecal sample

An automated system for quantitative collection and extraction of a fecal sample, the system comprising:

• a. a plurality of primary stool specimen containers configured to house a stool specimen and a plurality of secondary extraction tubes having a collection wand integrated into a cap and configured to quantitatively extract a fecal sample from a stool loaded wand;
• b. a primary loading module configured to receive the plurality of primary stool specimen containers, and a secondary loading module configured to receive the plurality of secondary extraction tubes;
• c. a robotic arm configured to:
• i. open and close a selected primary stool specimen container,
• ii. move a selected extraction tube from the secondary loading module to an operational spot,
• iii. open the cap and retrieve the collection wand from the selected extraction tube,
• iv. insert the retrieved collection wand into the stool using a downward spiral maneuver to load the wand with stool, and
• v. insert the loaded collection wand into the individual extraction tube to extract the fecal sample;
• d. a quality control module comprising a camera and image detection system with feedback mechanism in communication with the robotic arm that is configured to assess and confirm whether loading of the collection wand meets a preset acceptable tolerance and if so, the quality control module assists with positioning of the robotic arm for accurate insertion of the stool loaded wand into the selected extraction tube, but if not, the system is configured to reload the wand;
• e. an exhaust module comprising a fan and odor filter that removes odor from the system, the system further comprising an air inlet that coordinates with the exhaust module to generate air flow through the system and the odor filter;
• and
• f. executable software loaded into the system and in communication with a database that randomly generates and assigns pairs between at least one of the primary stool specimen containers and at least one of the plurality of secondary extraction tube(s).

An automated system for quantitative collection of a fecal sample from a primary stool specimen container and extraction of the collected fecal sample with a secondary extraction tube having a collection wand and configured to quantitatively extract a fecal sample from a stool loaded wand, the automated system comprising:

• a. a plurality of primary stool specimen containers, each configured to house a stool specimen, and a plurality of secondary extraction tubes, each having a collection wand and configured to quantitatively extract a fecal sample from a stool loaded wand;
• b. a primary loading module configured to receive the plurality of primary stool specimen containers, and a secondary loading module configured to receive the plurality of secondary extraction tubes;
• c. a robotic arm configured to:
• i. open and close a selected primary stool specimen container,
• ii. selectively retrieve the collection wand from each of the plurality of extraction tubes,
• iii. insert the retrieved collection wand into the stool to load the wand with stool, and
• iv. insert the loaded collection wand into a selected extraction tube to extract the fecal sample;
• d. a quality control module comprising an analyzer with feedback mechanism in communication with the robotic arm that is configured to assess and confirm whether loading of the collection wand meets a preset acceptable tolerance and if so, the quality control system assists with positioning of the robotic arm for accurate insertion of the stool loaded wand into the selected extraction tube;
• and
• e. executable software loaded into the system and in communication with a database that pairs at least one of the primary stool specimen containers with a corresponding secondary extraction tube(s).