US 2015/0176046 A1 · Method for Automated Unloading of Microbial Detection Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and automated unloading means for unloading a container from an apparatus. The apparatus of the present invention may include a means for automated loading, a means for automated transfer and/or a means for automated unloading of a container (e.g., a specimen container). In one embodiment, the apparatus can be an automated detection apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of a microbial agent in a test sample. The detection system also including a heated enclosure, a holding means or rack, and/or a detection unit for monitoring and/or interrogating the specimen container to detect whether the container is positive for the presence of a microbial agent. In other embodiment, the automated instrument may include one or more, bar code readers, scanners, cameras, and/or weighing stations to aid in scanning, reading, imaging and weighing of specimen containers within the system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An automated detection apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of microorganism growth in a test sample, comprising:

(a) a sealable specimen container having an internal chamber with a culture medium disposed therein for culturing any microorganisms that may be present in said test sample;
(b) a housing enclosing an interior chamber, said housing further comprising a first exit location and a second exit location operable for unloading said specimen containers from said apparatus;
(c) a holding structure contained within said interior chamber and comprising a plurality of wells for holding one or more of said specimen containers, and wherein said wells comprise one or more specimen containers;
(d) a detection unit located within said interior chamber for the detection of microorganism growth in said specimen container, wherein said detection unit is operable to determine if said specimen containers are “positive”, or “negative”, for microorganism growth therein;
and
(e) an automated transfer mechanism located within said interior chamber, said robotic transfer arm operable for the automated transfer of a “positive” specimen container from said holding structure to said first exit location, or for the automated transfer of a “negative” specimen container from said holding structure to said second exit location.

3 more elements

A method for the automated unloading of a specimen container from an automated detection apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of microorganism growth in a test sample, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) providing one or more specimen containers having an internal chamber with a culture medium disposed therein for culturing any microorganisms that may be present in said test sample;
(b) providing a automated detection apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
(i) a housing enclosing an interior chamber therein, said housing further comprising a “positive” container exit location for removing a specimen container determined as positive for microorganism growth from said interior chamber and a “negative” container exit location for removing a specimen container determined as negative for microorganism growth;
(ii) a holding structure located within said housing, said holding structure comprising a plurality of wells for holding said one or more containers, and wherein said holding structure is loaded with one or more of said specimen containers;
(iii) a detection unit for detecting one or more by-products of microorganism growth within said specimen container;
and
(iv) a robotic transfer arm for automated transfer of said specimen container within said housing;
and
(c) periodically monitoring said specimen container for the presence and/or absence of said one or more by-products, and wherein said specimen container is determined to be “positive” for microorganism growth therein by detection of said one or more by-products of microorganism growth or wherein said specimen container is determined to be “negative” for microorganism growth when said one or more by-products of microorganism growth are not detected after a specified time period;
and
(d) unloading said “positive” specimen container from said apparatus by transferring said specimen container from said holding structure to said positive container exit location using said robotic transfer arm or unloading said “negative” specimen container from said apparatus by transferring said specimen container from said holding structure to said negative container exit location using said robotic transfer arm.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for Automated Unloading of Microbial Detection Apparatus

Life of this patent

Method for Automated Unloading of Microbial Detection Apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20