System and method for the processing of liquid samples
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01N-035/02
G01N-035/10
출원번호
US-0623748
(2009-11-23)
등록번호
US-8361387
(2013-01-29)
우선권정보
EP-08170322 (2008-11-28)
발명자
/ 주소
Schacher, Gottlieb
Sigrist, Rolf
출원인 / 주소
Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
5인용 특허 :
9
초록▼
A method and system for automatically processing of liquid samples involving mixing of the samples with fluids are disclosed. The system includes a storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers, which includes: a storing member provided with a plurality of storing position
A method and system for automatically processing of liquid samples involving mixing of the samples with fluids are disclosed. The system includes a storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers, which includes: a storing member provided with a plurality of storing positions, adapted for accommodating the fluid containers, the storing member having at least two storing levels, each of which extending in a plane, which are being stacked in a direction orthogonally aligned to the plane; and a handler, adapted for automatically transferring the fluid containers at least with respect to the storing positions. A method for operating such storing and handling device is also disclosed, wherein individual fluid containers are transferred between storing positions of a same or different storing levels in accordance with processing of the liquid samples.
대표청구항▼
1. A system for automatically processing of liquid samples involving mixing of the samples with fluids, comprising at least one storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers, which includes: at least one storing member provided with a plurality of storing positions to acco
1. A system for automatically processing of liquid samples involving mixing of the samples with fluids, comprising at least one storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers, which includes: at least one storing member provided with a plurality of storing positions to accommodate said fluid containers, wherein each of said plurality of storing positions are defined by a pair of vertical mount plates each extending in a horizontal direction (X), and wherein said storing member having at least two storing levels, each of which extending in a plane (X, Y) and having multiple of said plurality of storing positions, which are being stacked in a direction (Z) orthogonally aligned to said plane (X, Y),a plurality of pallets slidingly engaged with said storing member and supporting said fluid containers, wherein each of said plurality of pallets slidingly engage one of said pair of vertical mount plates of said plurality of storing positions along said horizontal direction (X), anda handler comprising a transfer head that travels along two directions (Y, Z) and fittingly engages a bottom-side of the plurality of pallets to automatically transfer the fluid containers between said storing positions. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said storing and handling device is operable to cool the fluid containers. 3. The system according to claim 1, in which said storing member includes a plurality of mounts , each of which detachably holds a supporting member for supporting of at least one fluid container. 4. The system according to claim 1, further including a first-time opener to initially open said fluid containers. 5. The system according to claim 1, further including at least one device selected from the group consisting of: an opener/closer to raise or lower a hinged cap of at least one fluid container with respect to a compartment body; a stirrer to stir a fluid contained in at least one fluid container; a reader to read machine-readable information which at least one fluid container is provided with; a shaker to shake fluids such as magnetically attractable particles contained in at least one fluid container; and a washing device to wash the stirrer. 6. The system according to claim 1, in which said storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers is a modular device. 7. The system according to claim 1, further including at least one input/output position for loading/unloading of fluid containers to/from the system. 8. The system according to claim 1, in which said storing and handling device includes two storing members in opposite relationship with respect to each other, wherein said handler being arranged in-between the storing members, automatically transfers the fluid containers at least with respect to the storing positions of both storing members. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said storing member is provided with at least one storing position to pipette fluids contained in at least one fluid container stored therein. 10. The system according to claim 9, further including a pipetting device provided with at least one pipette to pipette fluids contained in at least one fluid container when stored in said at least one pipetting position. 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said storing member is comprised of a plurality of modular storing sub-members. 12. A modular storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers for use in a system for the automated processing of liquid samples involving mixing of the samples with fluids contained in said fluid containers, said storing and handling device comprising: at least one storing member provided with a plurality of storing positions to accommodate said fluid containers, wherein each of said plurality of storing positions are defined by a pair of vertical mount plates each extending in a horizontal direction (X), and wherein said storing member having at least two storing levels, each of which extending in a plane (X, Y) and having multiple of said plurality of storing positions, which are being stacked in a direction (Z) orthogonally aligned to said plane (X, Y);a plurality of pallets slidingly engaged with said storing member and supporting said fluid containers, wherein each of said plurality of pallets slidingly engage one of said pair of vertical mount plates of said plurality of storing positions along said horizontal direction (X); anda handler comprising a transfer head that travels along two directions (Y, Z) and fittingly engages a bottom-side of the plurality of pallets to automatically transfer the fluid containers between said storing positions. 13. A method for operating a storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers for use in a system for the automated processing of liquid samples involving mixing of the samples with fluids contained in said fluid containers, said storing and handling device comprising at least one storing member, a plurality of pallets, and a handler, wherein said storing member is provided with a plurality of storing positions to accommodate said fluid containers that each are defined by a pair of vertical mount plates that extend in a horizontal direction (X), and said storing member has at least two storing levels, each of which extending in a plane (X, Y) and having multiple of said plurality of storing positions, which are stacked in a direction (Z) orthogonally aligned to said plane (X, Y), said plurality of pallets are slidingly engaged with said storing member, wherein each of said plurality of pallets slidingly engage one of said pair of vertical mount plates of said plurality of storing positions, and said handler comprises a transfer head that travels along two directions (Y, Z), in which said method comprises: sliding one of said plurality of pallets along said horizontal direction (X) with said handler, while said transfer head is fittingly engaged with one of said plurality of pallets, wherein individual fluid containers are disposed within said one of said plurality of pallets;removing said one of said plurality of pallets from said storing member with said handler; andtransferring said individual fluid containers between storing positions of a same or different storing levels with said handler in accordance with processing of the liquid samples. 14. The method according to claim 13, in which individual fluid containers are transferred to at least one pipetting position, and pipetting fluids contained in the fluid containers for processing of the liquid samples. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of: initially opening of at least one fluid container; raising of at least one hinged cap of at least one fluid container; lowering of at least one hinged cap of at least one fluid container; stifling of the fluid contained in at least one fluid container; washing of a stirrer; shaking of at least one fluid container for mixing of the fluid contained therein; and reading of at least one machine-readable information which is provided with at least one fluid container. 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of: initially opening of at least one fluid container; raising of at least one hinged cap of at least one fluid container; lowering of at least one hinged cap of at least one fluid container; stifling of the fluid contained in at least one fluid container;washing of a stirrer; shaking of at least one fluid container for mixing of the fluid contained therein; and reading of at least one machine-readable information which is provided with at least one fluid container. 17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising cooling the fluid container with said storing and handling device. 18. The method according to claim 13, wherein said pair of vertical mount plates each comprises a rib for slideable engagement. 19. The method according to claim 13, further comprising providing at least one input/output position for loading/unloading of fluid containers to/from the system. 20. The method according to claim 13, further comprising providing two storing members of said storing and handling device in an opposite relationship with respect to each other, wherein said handler is arranged in-between the storing members; and automatically transferring the fluid containers at least with respect to the storing positions of both storing members. 21. A system for automatically processing of liquid samples involving mixing of the samples with fluids, comprising at least one storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers, which includes: at least one storing member provided with a plurality of storing positions to accommodate said fluid containers, said storing member having at least two storing levels, each of which extending in a plane (X, Y), which are stacked in a direction (Z) orthogonally aligned to said plane (X, Y), wherein said storing positions comprise a pipetting position such that, when one of said fluid containers is in the pipetting position, fluid contained within said one of said fluid containers is pippeted, anda handler to automatically transfer the fluid containers between said storing positions. 22. A modular storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers for use in a system for the automated processing of liquid samples involving mixing of the samples with fluids contained in said fluid containers, said storing and handling device comprising: at least one storing member provided with a plurality of storing positions to accommodate said fluid containers, said storing member having at least two storing levels, each of which extending in a plane (X, Y), which are stacked in a direction (Z) orthogonally aligned to said plane (X, Y), wherein said storing positions comprise a pipetting position such that, when one of said fluid containers is in said pipetting position, fluid contained within said one of said fluid containers is pippeted; anda handler to automatically transfer the fluid containers between said storing positions. 23. A method for operating a storing and handling device for storing and handling of fluid containers for use in a system for the automated processing of liquid samples involving mixing of the samples with fluids contained in said fluid containers, said storing and handling device comprising at least one storing member provided with a plurality of storing positions to accommodate said fluid containers, said storing member having-at least two storing levels, each of which extending in a plane (X, Y), which are stacked in a direction (Z) orthogonally aligned to said plane (X, Y) , wherein said storing positions comprise a pipetting position for pipetting fluid contained within said fluid containers, in which said method comprises: transferring said fluid containers from one of said storing positions to said pippeting position of a same or different storing levels with said handler in accordance with processing of the liquid samples; andpipetting fluid contained within one of said fluid containers when said one of said fluid containers is in said pipetting position.
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