High-throughput sample processing systems and methods of use
AssigneeCounsyl, Inc.
InventorsKyle Allen Lapham, James Frederick Cregg, Daniel Delubac, Stuart Ira Glaser
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are high-throughput sample processing systems and waste management systems, and methods of using the same.
Claims15
1-16. (canceled)
A high throughput sample processing method comprising:
- drawing a plurality of samples from a plurality of sample containers;
- dispensing each sample into a well of a sample processing plate comprising a plurality of wells, wherein each sample is dispensed into a different well;
- dispensing fluids into the plurality of wells of the sample processing plate using a contactless fluid dispensing device;
- detecting the liquid level in each of the plurality of wells of the sample processing plate using a plurality of contactless liquid level sensors;
- mixing at least one sample processing plate simultaneously using a plurality of contactless mixing devices;
- removing fluids from the plurality of wells of the sample processing plate using a plurality of aspirators;
- and
- managing fluids removed from the plurality of wells using a waste management system.
The method of claim 20, comprising dynamically controlling the processing of a plate depending upon the location or status of other plates.
The method of claim 20, further comprising automatically loading additional plates into the sample dispensing device.
The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of samples comprise blood, plasma or saliva.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for operating a high throughput sample processing system, the computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for:
- dynamically scheduling multiple sample processing plates for processing through a sample processing system, wherein the scheduling depends upon the location or status of other sample processing plates in the sample processing system;
- controlling one or more robotic mechanisms for transferring sample processing plates among devices within the sample processing system according to the dynamic scheduling;
- operating a sample dispensing device operable for drawing a plurality of samples from a plurality of sample containers and for dispensing each sample into a well of a sample processing plate comprising a plurality of wells, wherein each sample is dispensed into a different well;
- operating a contactless fluid dispensing device operable for dispensing fluids into the plurality of wells of each of the sample processing plates;
- operating a plurality of contactless liquid level sensors operable for detecting the liquid level in each of the plurality of wells of each of the sample processing plates;
- operating a plurality of aspirators for removing fluids from the plurality of wells of each of the sample processing plates;
- operating a plurality of contactless mixing devices for mixing a plurality of sample processing plates simultaneously;
- and
- operating a waste management system for managing fluids removed from the plurality of wells.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.