Robotically operated laboratory system

A method of analyzing a plurality of sample specimens, each contained within a syringe using a computerized robotic system having:

• at least one computer, said at least one computer having a database capable of receiving information from sensors, transmitting information to a power means within said system, maintaining and transmitting test data to a remote second location based on an input from an analytical instrument within said system;
• a specimen receiving station, said specimen receiving station having a syringe receiving area and a plurality of sensors within said syringe receiving area, said sensors indicating the presence or lack of presence of a syringe in said syringe receiving area;
• a refrigerated, specimen storage unit, said specimen storage unit having;
• a specimen holding area, said specimen holding area having a plurality of specimen holding means being recessed from a table surface,
• each of said plurality of specimen holding means having an individual identification code registered within said database,
• said plurality of specimen holding means being rotatable at a rate and for a length of time which is determined by said computer, said rotation commencing at the time of placing a first sample specimen syringe into one of said plurality of specimen holding means,
• said refrigerated specimen storage unit maintaining an essentially constant, preset temperature for a period of time,
• a plurality of syringes, each of said plurality of syringes having a syringe cap and containing a substance to be analyzed, each syringe being given a syringe identification code within said database to trace said syringe from receipt in said specimen receiving station to disposal,
• decapping means, said decapping means comprising:
• a decapping area, said decapping area having a plurality of sensors, said sensors recognizing the presence or lack of presence of a syringe and syringe cap,
• a cap receiving area, said cap receiving area being dimensioned to receive a syringe,
• a gripping device, said gripping device being dimensioned to receive a narrow portion of said syringe cap and being moved by a power source,
• power means, said power means moving said gripping device in response to commands from said computer,
• an analytical instrument, said analytical instrument having:
• syringe analysis means,
• sensor means, said sensor means being proximate said syringe analysis means to indicate the presence or lack of presence of a syringe,
• a robot, said robot having
• a movable arm and
• at least one pair of specimen gripping means, said at least one pair of specimen gripping means being attached to said movable arm and having sensors, said sensors indicating the presence or absence of a syringe,
• wherein said movable arm moves said gripping means between a plurality of locations, including at least said specimen receiving station, said refrigerated specimen storage unit, said decapping means and said analytical instrument, said robot receiving commands from at least one of said at least one computer to grasp, release and move said sample specimen syringe;
• comprising the steps of:
• a- placing a first of a plurality of sample specimen syringes in said syringe receiving area of said specimen receiving station, thereby activating said sensors therein and notifying said database of the presence of said first syringe,
• b- assigning aid first syringe a syringe identification code in said database,
• c- said database commanding said robot to move to said specimen receiving station,
• d- said robot notifying said database when said specimen gripping means are in position to grasp said first syringe,
• e- said database commanding said specimen gripping means to close around said first syringe, said sensors registering the proximity of said syringe and sending said proximity to said database until said database commands said specimen gripping means to cease closing at a predetermined proximity,
• f- said database checking said specimen storage unit to determine which of said plurality of specimen holding means is vacant and memorizing its individual identification code and rotating said specimen storage unit to a position which is accessible to said robot;
• g- said database commanding said robot to move said first syringe from said sample receiving station to the vacant specimen holding means corresponding to said specimen holding means individual identification code,
• h- said robot releasing said first syringe and notifying said database of the time of placing said sample in said vacant specimen holding means,
• i- said database determining a next sample specimen syringe to be analyzed and relaying a next syringe identification code to said specimen holding means, causing said specimen holding means to rotate such that said next syringe is accessible to said robot,
• j- said database commanding said robot to remove said next syringe from said specimen storage unit by transmitting the specimen holding means identification code of said next syringe to said robot,
• k- said robot arm moving to said specimen holding means, repeating step (e), and removing said next syringe, said sample specimen storage unit continuing rotation after removal of said syringe,
• l- robotically transferring said next sample specimen syringe from said specimen holding means to said decapping means and notifying said database that said gripping means are located in position over said decapping means,
• m- said database commanding said gripping device of said decapping means to be in a position to receive said syringe and said syringe cap,
• n- upon verification that said gripping means is in a position to receive said next syringe and syringe cap, said database commands said robot to place said next syringe into said decapping means until said decapping mans sensors notify said database that said syringe cap is positioned in said cap receiving area and that a syringe is present,
• o- said database commanding said power means to activate said gripping device to move into a position to lock said syringe cap in said cap receiving area,
• p- said database checking said analytical instrument to determine if said analytical instrument is ready to analyze said next syringe and receiving from said analytical instrument a proceed or hold signal,
• q- repeating step (p) until said analytical instrument sends said proceed signal,
• r- said database notifying said analytical instrument that said next syringe is being transferred and commanding said robot to remove said next syringe from said decapping means, said syringe cap being retained in said cap receiving area by said gripping device,
• s- said database commanding said robot to remove said next syringe from said decapping means and place said next syringe in said syringe analysis means of said analytical instrument, said sensor means in said syringe analysis means notifying said database when said next syringe is positioned within said syringe analysis means,
• t- said database commanding said movable arm to hold said next syringe proximate said analytical instrument and then commanding said analytical instrument to withdraw an aliquot of said substance contained within said next syringe into said analytical instrument,
• u- said analytical instrument notifying said database when said aliquot has been withdrawn,
• v- said database commanding said robot to remove said next syringe from said analytical instrument and return said syringe to said decapping means,
• w- said database verifying said syringe cap is in position within said cap receiving area to recap said syringe and, once verification is received, commanding said robot to place said next syringe into said decapping means until said sensors transmit to said database that said cap is locked onto said next syringe,
• x- said database commanding said gripping device to release said syringe cap,
• y- said database commanding said robot to repeat step (e) and lift said next syringe from said decapping means, move said next syringe to a storage area and place said next syringe in said storage area, the location in said storage area being given a storage area code,
• z- transferring test results obtained from the analysis of said next syringe with said syringe identification code to a computer at a remote second location through a computer data transfer link, said test results being viewed and an acceptance or rejection issued by a technologist at said remote second location,
• aa- said database receiving said acceptance or rejection of each of said syringes tested, said acceptance or rejection corresponding to said syringe identification code,
• bb- said database responding to an acceptance of said test results by commanding said robot to dispose of said syringe and entering into the database that said syringe was disposed of,
• cc- said database responding to a rejection of said test results by repeating steps i-bb,
• dd- repeating steps i-cc, until all syringes are tested,
• ee- repeating steps a-cc upon activation of said specimen receiving station sensors.