초록 ▼

A rack for an automated processing system. The rack includes a number of wells adapted to hold at least a first sample container having a first size, and a second sample container having a second size. The second size, which may be a diameter, a height, or both, is substantially different from the f

A rack for an automated processing system. The rack includes a number of wells adapted to hold at least a first sample container having a first size, and a second sample container having a second size. The second size, which may be a diameter, a height, or both, is substantially different from the first size. A structure joins the wells. The rack is adapted to fit in an automated processing system that is adapted to remove both the first sample container and the second sample container from the rack.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A rack for an automated processing system, the rack comprising: a plurality of wells, each of the plurality of wells being adapted to selectively hold at least a first sample container having a first size and a second sample container having a second size, the second size being substantially diff

1. A rack for an automated processing system, the rack comprising: a plurality of wells, each of the plurality of wells being adapted to selectively hold at least a first sample container having a first size and a second sample container having a second size, the second size being substantially different from the first size; anda structure joining the plurality of wells to form a rack;wherein the rack is adapted to fit in an automated processing system adapted to remove both the first sample container and the second sample container from the rack;wherein each of the plurality of wells is further adapted to hold a third sample container having a third size, the third size being substantially different from at least one of the first size and the second size; andwherein each of the plurality of wells comprises: a first cylindrical wall;a first radial wall below the first cylindrical wall and extending inward from the first cylindrical wall;a second cylindrical wall extending below the first radial wall;a second radial wall below the second cylindrical wall and extending inward from the second cylindrical wall;a conical wall extending below the second radial wall. 2. The rack of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of wells comprises: a first well shape having a first lateral support to hold the first sample container in a lateral direction, and a first vertical support to support the first sample container in a vertical direction; anda second well shape having a second lateral support to hold the second sample container in the lateral direction, and a second vertical support to support the second sample container in the vertical direction. 3. The rack of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first well shape and the second well shape comprises a cylindrical wall and a radial wall extending from the bottom of the cylindrical wall. 4. The rack of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first well shape and the second well shape comprises a conical wall adapted to contact a portion of at least one of the first sample container and the second sample container. 5. The rack of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first well shape and the second well shape further comprises a cylindrical wall above the conical wall. 6. An automated sample processing system comprising: a first sample container;a second sample container having at least one dimension that is substantially different from at least one corresponding dimension of the first sample container;a rack having a plurality of wells, each of the plurality of wells being configured to alternately hold the first sample container and second sample container, and a structure joining the plurality of wells;a processing machine adapted to receive the rack, the processing machine having a gripper having one or more movable grips adapted to alternately grasp the first sample container and the second sample container to permit the gripper to remove the first sample container and the second sample container from the rack;wherein the processing machine comprises a pre-analytic machine adapted to perform a first plurality of assay steps on first samples removed from the first container and a second plurality of assay steps on second samples removed from the second container, wherein at least one of the first plurality of assay steps is different from at least one of the second plurality of assay steps. 7. The automated sample processing system of claim 6, wherein the at least one dimension comprises a second sample container diameter, and the at least one corresponding dimension comprises a first sample container diameter. 8. The automated sample processing system of claim 6, wherein the at least one dimension comprises a second sample container height, and the at least one corresponding dimension comprises a first sample container height. 9. The automated sample processing system of claim 6, wherein the at least one dimension comprises a second sample container diameter and a second sample container height, and the at least one corresponding dimension comprises a first sample container diameter and a first sample container height. 10. The automated sample processing system of claim 6, wherein the rack is removable from the processing machine. 11. The automated sample processing system of claim 6, wherein the one or more movable grips each comprise two grips, each grip having a first grip member and a second grip member, and wherein the first grip members are below the second grip members and spaced a greater distance from one another than the second grip members at any given position of the movable grips. 12. The automated sample processing system of claim 6, wherein the gripper comprises one or more sensors positioned to detect the presence of the first sample container or the second sample container. 13. The automated sample processing system of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors identify one or more distinctions between the first sample container and the second sample container. 14. The automated sample processing system of claim 6, wherein the one or more movable grips have a movement path between an open position and a closed position, the movement path extending generally in a horizontal plane. 15. The automated sample processing system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of wells are adapted to hold the first sample container with an upper end of the first sample container at a first height, and to hold the second sample container with an upper end of the second sample container at a second height, wherein the first height and the second height are within the movement path. 16. The automated sample processing system of claim 15, wherein the one or more movable grips comprise at least two lower grip members and at least two upper grip members, wherein the lower grip members are spaced a greater distance from one another with respect to the horizontal plane than the upper grip members, and wherein the lower grip members are located in a lower portion of the movement path, and the upper grip members are located in an upper portion of the movement path. 17. The automated sample processing system of claim 15, wherein the upper end of the first sample container is positioned to be grasped by the lower grip members, and the upper end of the second sample container is positioned to be grasped by the upper grip members. 18. The automated sample processing system of claim 6, further comprising: a third sample container having at least one third dimension that is substantially different from at least one corresponding dimension of the first sample container and the second sample container;wherein each of the plurality of wells is adapted to alternately hold the first sample container, the second sample container and the third sample container; andwherein the movable grips are adapted to alternately grasp the first sample container, the second sample container and the third sample container to permit the gripper to remove the first sample container, the second sample container and the third sample container from the rack. 19. A rack and sample container system comprising: a first sample container having a first height;a second sample container having at second height;a third sample container having a third height; anda rack having a plurality of wells, each of the plurality of wells comprising: a first well shape adapted to hold the first sample container with an upper end of the first sample container at a first predetermined distance from the rack,a second well shape adapted to hold the second sample container with an upper end of the second sample container at a second predetermined distance from the rack, anda third well shape adapted to hold the third sample container with an upper end of the third sample container at a third predetermined distance from the rack;wherein the first predetermined distance, second predetermined distance and third predetermined distance are approximately the same distance from the rack, such that the upper end of the first sample container, the upper end of the second sample container, and the upper end of the third sample container are within a generally linear travel path of an associated gripping mechanism. 20. The rack and sample container system of claim 19, wherein at least two of the first well shape, the second well shape and the third well shape comprise common structural elements. 21. The rack and sample container system of claim 19, wherein: the first well shape comprises a first cylindrical wall and a first radial wall below the first cylindrical wall and extending inward from the first cylindrical wall;the second well shape comprises a second cylindrical wall extending below the first radial wall and a second radial wall below the second cylindrical wall and extending inward from the second cylindrical wall; andthe third well shape comprises at least a portion of the second cylindrical wall and a conical wall extending below the second radial wall. 22. The rack and sample container system of claim 19, wherein the first well shape, second well shape and third well shape are concentrically arranged.