System and process for transporting and automated handling of test tubes containing biological samples

A process for transporting and handling test tubes containing biological samples,

• wherein the process includes a system for performing the transporting and handling, comprising:
• one or more pneumatic transport tubes,
• a plurality of carriers, configured to be pneumatically transported within the one or more pneumatic transport tubes, and
• one or more arrival/departure stations for the plurality of carriers, each arrival/departure station connected to a pneumatic transport tube of the one or more pneumatic transport tubes, for loading and/or unloading the test tubes containing biological samples,
• wherein:
• each carrier is in a form of a substantially cylindrical hollow capsule, having an internal chamber for transporting the test tubes containing biological samples and a door with a hinge axis parallel to a main axis of the carrier, movable in an automated way between a closed position, for transporting the test tubes containing biological samples through the one or more pneumatic transport tubes, and an open position, for loading and/or unloading the test tubes containing biological samples into/from the arrival/departure station,
• each arrival/departure station has a tubular structure coaxially connected to said one or more pneumatic transport tubes and arranged to receive a carrier of the plurality of carriers arriving or departing from the arrival/departure station, wherein the tubular structure of the arrival/departure station has a station door configured to be moved in an automated way between a closed position and an open position, for access to an inner chamber of the carrier arranged in the arrival/departure station and having the door of the carrier open,
• each carrier is associated with at least one test tube rack having a plurality of locations, each of the locations configured to removably receive and hold a test tube of the test tubes,
• the at least one test tube rack and the inner chamber of the carrier have mutually engaging surfaces, configured to allow the at least one test tube rack to be removably received and held within the inner chamber of the carrier,
• wherein the system for transporting and handling further comprises:
• an interface station between at least one of said arrival/departure stations and an automated line for transporting the test tubes or a sample processing unit, said interface station being configured to support at specified positions one or more of the at least one test tube rack, and
• at least one electronically controlled automated manipulator, arranged adjacent to said at least one arrival/departure station and to said interface station,
• the process including performing, through said at least one automated manipulator, the following operations:
• transfer one or more test tubes from said automated transport line, or from said sample processing unit, to respective locations of the at least one test tube rack arranged at said interface station,
• pick up the at least one test tube rack from said interface station, after at least one of the locations of the at least one test tube rack has been filled with the test tube,
• load the at least one test tube rack, with the test tubes carried by it, into the inner chamber of the carrier reaching the arrival/departure station after the station door and the door of the carrier have both been opened,
• pick up the at least one test tube rack from the carrier reaching the arrival/departure station, after the station door and the door of the carrier have both been opened,
• place the at least one test tube rack thus picked up in a determined position in said interface station, and
• transfer test tubes from respective locations within the at least one test tube rack, which has been placed in said interface station, to said automated transport line or said sample processing unit.