Barcode reading test tube holder
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
InventorBenjamin Samuel Pollack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tube holders for use in a lab environment include an optical device to allow the observation of barcode information on a sample tube. The optical device can include a lens or camera. Tube holders can also include reflective surfaces or mechanical mechanisms to allow the tube to be rotated such that reading a barcode does not require a strict initial orientation of the tube when placed in the tube holder. Arrays of tubes can include optical guides to allow barcodes to be read by an external imaging device.
Claims26
A carrier configured to transport patient samples around an in vitro diagnostics automation system, the carrier comprising:
- a tube holder configured to hold a sample tube;
- one or more optical devices configured to receive an image of a barcode on the sample tube;
- and
- a reflective surface of the tube holder configured to reflect the image of the barcode to the one or more optical devices when the tube is in the tube holder in an orientation such that the barcode is not in a direct line of sight of the optical device.
A carrier for use in an in vitro diagnostics environment comprising:
- a tube holder configured to hold a sample tube;
- and
- a plurality of optical devices configured to receive an image of a barcode on the sample tube, wherein the plurality of optical devices are arranged on a surface of the tube holder such that the barcode is in a line of sight of at least a portion of the plurality of optical devices.
A carrier configured to transport patient samples around an in vitro diagnostics automation system, the carrier comprising:
- a tube holder configured to hold a sample tube;
- one or more optical devices configured to receive an image of a barcode on the sample tube;
- and
- a rotation device configured to rotate the sample tube relative to the carrier to orient the barcode within a line of sight of at least one of the one or more optical devices.
A rack for transporting samples around an in vitro diagnostics environment automation system, the rack comprising:
- a plurality of tube holders, each configured to hold a sample tube;
- and
- a plurality of optical paths within the structure of the rack for conveying images of each sample tube to one or more optical ports,
- wherein the one or more optical ports are suitable for observing barcode information associated with tubes placed in the plurality of tube holders.
A rack for transporting samples in an in vitro diagnostics environment comprising:
- a plurality of tube holders, each configured to hold a sample tube;
- a plurality of optical devices on one or more surfaces within the rack for observing barcodes of each sample tube;
- and
- an electrical port coupled to the plurality of optical devices for communicating images of the barcodes between the optical devices and the electrical port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.