IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0695030
(2003-10-28)
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등록번호 |
US-7601300
(2009-10-28)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Blanton, Ross Mitchell
- Justin, Michael James
- Bishop, James Clement
- Yam, Jacky S.
- Polster, Robert J.
- Fanning, Mark Joseph
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
38 |
초록
▼
An integrated instrument processes fluid test samples using disposable test devices. The test devices are carried in a carrier. The instrument includes a vacuum station receiving the carrier for batch loading of the test devices with fluid samples to be tested. The user removes the carrier from the
An integrated instrument processes fluid test samples using disposable test devices. The test devices are carried in a carrier. The instrument includes a vacuum station receiving the carrier for batch loading of the test devices with fluid samples to be tested. The user removes the carrier from the vacuum station and inserts it into a loading station of a separate carrier and test device processing subsystem. This subsystem includes a transport system moving the carrier through the instrument where various modules perform operations on the test devices, including sealing the test devices, loading the test devices into an incubation station, incubation of the test devices, test device reading, and test device disposal.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. An integrated system for processing a plurality of test samples and test sample devices for receiving said test samples, said test samples received in individual fluid receptacles, comprising: a carrier for carrying a plurality, of said individual fluid receptacles and a plur
What is claimed is: 1. An integrated system for processing a plurality of test samples and test sample devices for receiving said test samples, said test samples received in individual fluid receptacles, comprising: a carrier for carrying a plurality, of said individual fluid receptacles and a plurality of said test sample devices, each of said test sample devices placed in fluid communication with a test sample stored in one of said individual fluid receptacles; a vacuum station adapted for manual insertion of said carrier into said vacuum station and manual removal of said carrier from said vacuum station, said vacuum station further comprising a source of vacuum and a vacuum controller, said vacuum source controlled so as to load said test samples from said individual fluid receptacles into respective test sample devices; and a carrier and test device processing subsystem remote from said vacuum station, comprising (1) a transport system for translating the carrier within the carrier and test device processing subsystem, the transport system including one or more optical sensors for sensing the position of the carrier within the carrier and test device processing subsystem, including the position of the carrier at an incubator loading position and (2) modules for processing said carrier and test sample devices, said modules including an incubator and a module for conducting optical measurements of said test sample devices, wherein said carrier and test device processing subsystem and said vacuum station are integrated into a single instrument and wherein said carrier is manually loaded into said carrier and test device processing subsystem after completion of vacuum loading of said test samples; wherein the one or more optical sensors include an optical sensor located at the incubator loading position where the test sample device are moved from the carrier into the incubator. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said transport system moves said carrier along a single longitudinal axis between a loading station in which said carrier is received and said modules. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said modules further include a sealing station sealing said test sample devices. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said modules further include an incubation station, and an autoloading station wherein said test sample devices are automatically removed from said carrier and inserted into said incubation station. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said carrier and test device processing subsystem comprises: 1) a carrier loading and unloading station remote from said vacuum station, wherein the transport system transports said carrier from said loading and unloading station through said carrier and test device processing subsystem; 2) a sealing system for sealing said test sample devices; 3) an incubation station for incubating said test sample devices; 4) an autoloading station for moving said test sample devices from said carrier into said incubation station; 5) a reading station for reading said test sample devices; and 6) a disposal system receiving said test sample devices after the completion of reading of said test sample devices. 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a carrier reading station having at least one reader for reading machine-readable indicia applied to a) said carrier and b) said test sample devices. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said test sample devices comprise multi-well test sample cards. 8. The system of claim 5, wherein said transport system comprises a carrier-engaging member adapted to engage said carrier, and wherein said transport system is constructed and arranged so as to move said carrier back and forth along a single longitudinal axis between said carrier loading and unloading station, said sealing station, and said autoloading station. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a set of panels covering said instrument, said panels further forming a front portion of the instrument, a user interface providing operator controls for said system; a first door providing access for loading said carrier into said vacuum station; a second door providing access for loading said carrier into said carrier and test device processing subsystem; and a third door providing access to a disposal system receiving said test devices after completion of processing of said test devices by said modules. 10. An integrated system for processing a plurality of test samples and test sample devices for receiving said test samples, said test samples received in individual fluid receptacles, said system for use with a carrier holding a plurality of said fluid receptacles and a plurality of said test sample devices in a spaced relationship, each of said test sample devices having a transfer tube providing fluid communication between said test sample device and one of said fluid receptacles received in said carrier, the system comprising: a vacuum station adapted for manual insertion of said carrier into said vacuum station and removal of said carrier from said vacuum station, said vacuum station further comprising a source of vacuum, said vacuum source controlled so as to load said test samples from said individual fluid receptacles into respective test sample devices; a first door providing access to said vacuum station; a carrier and test device processing subsystem remote from said vacuum station, said carrier and test device processing system comprising apparatus for sealing said test devices, an incubator incubating said test devices, apparatus for and reading said test devices, and a transport system moving the carrier within the carrier and test device processing subsystem to an incubation loading position, the transport system having one or more optical sensors including an optical sensor located at the incubator loading position where the test sample device are moved from the carrier into the incubator, a second door providing access for said carrier to said carrier and test device processing subsystem. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said carrier and test device processing subsystem comprises: 1) a carrier loading and unloading station remote from said vacuum station adapted for manual insertion of said carrier into said carrier and test device processing subsystem and for removal of said carrier from said carrier and test device processing subsystem; 2) a transport subassembly for transporting said, carrier from said loading and unloading station through said carrier and test device processing subsystem; 3) a sealing system for cutting said transfer tubes and sealing said test sample devices; 4) an incubation station incubating said test sample devices; 5) an autoloading station moving test sample devices from said carrier into said incubation station; 6) a reading station reading said test sample devices; and 7) a disposal system receiving said test sample devices after the completion of reading of said test sample devices. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein said transport subassembly comprises a carrier-engaging member adapted to engage said carrier, and wherein said transport subassembly is constructed and arranged so as to move said carrier back and forth along a single longitudinal axis between said carrier loading and unloading station, said sealing station, and said autoloading station. 13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a third door for providing access to said disposal system. 14. The system of claim 1, further comprising an incubation station having a cover panel, said cover panel providing access for a thermometer measuring the temperature of said incubation station, said thermometer providing visual indication of the instantaneous temperature inside said incubation station. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said incubation station further comprises a carousel and an air distribution chamber through which air is supplied to said carousel, and wherein said thermometer monitors the temperature of said air distribution chamber. 16. The system of claim 10, further comprising an incubation station having a cover panel, said cover panel providing access for a thermometer measuring the temperature of said incubation station, said thermometer providing visual indication, of the instantaneous temperature inside said incubation station. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said incubation station further comprises a carousel and an air distribution chamber through which air is supplied to said carousel, and wherein said thermometer monitors the temperature of said air distribution chamber. 18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system of sensors and locks to control and monitor user access to the instrument enclosure. 19. The system of claim 10, further comprising a bar code reading station for reading bar codes on the carrier and the test sample devices. 20. The system of claim 10, further comprising a sensor station for determining the presence of the carrier and the presence and location of the test sample devices in the carrier.
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