CN112415214A - Sample rack handling device, detection system, submission method and computer readable medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sample rack manipulation device, a detection system and a detection method using the sample rack manipulation device, and a computer readable medium implementing the detection method. The sample rack manipulation device includes: a loading/unloading zone in which a plurality of sample racks carrying sample containers filled with samples can be arranged side by side; a sampling zone in which samples in each of the sample containers on the sample rack are sampled by the automated inspection device; and a docking device for transferring the sample rack between the loading/unloading zone and the sampling zone. The connecting device is configured to be capable of taking out the sample frames to be detected loaded in the loading/unloading area in any sequence and transferring the taken out sample frames to be detected to the sampling area for sampling.

Description

Sample rack handling device, detection system, submission method and computer readable medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of medical technology, and more particularly, to a sample rack manipulation device, a sample testing system and a sample testing method using the same, and a computer readable medium allowing the sample testing method to be implemented.

Background

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

The medical field, in particular clinical medicine and laboratory medicine, is not free from analytical testing instruments of all kinds for testing samples in test tubes or cups. When the sample size is large, this requires the throughput of the biochemical detection instrument. The full-automatic biochemical analysis and detection equipment does not need manual operation, and has high detection speed, so that the full-automatic biochemical analysis and detection equipment becomes necessary detection equipment for modern medical institutions.

The prior art fully automated biochemical analysis and detection apparatus capable of batch processing is generally enclosed, and includes a loading port, a sample rack manipulator, a sampling portion, a detection portion, and an unloading port. In use, an operator need only load one or more sample racks carrying test tubes (or cups) containing samples from the load port into the testing apparatus to activate the testing apparatus. At this time, the sample rack manipulating device of the testing apparatus can transfer the single sample rack to the sampling part in the loading order, and sample-test the samples contained in one or more test tubes carried on the sample rack respectively. After all the test tubes on the sample rack are sampled, the sample rack manipulating device conveys the sample rack with the sampling completed to the unloading port, and simultaneously conveys the next sample rack from the loading port to the sampling part for sampling detection.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved

The fully automatic detection device as described above can only load the first test in sequence, so that it is often unwieldy and can only wait in a queue when handling an emergency such as a sample that needs to be processed after the first test. For this reason, a scheme has been proposed in which an emergency sample insertion function is provided in the test apparatus to prioritize the test of the emergency sample. This scheme requires an additional emergency sample insertion port, resulting in a complicated apparatus. In addition, since the emergency sample insertion port has a limited throughput, it is only suitable for the priority processing of individual samples, and thus it is obvious that the problem cannot be solved fundamentally.

Furthermore, the inability of the sample rack manipulator to dispense sample racks on demand and the difference in the detection times of individual samples by different detection devices also makes it difficult to integrate different detection devices in one system to share the sample rack manipulator.

The invention provides a full-automatic detection device for a sample rack, which is provided by the invention, in view of the fact that the conventional full-automatic detection device adopts a non-selective sequential transmission scheme, so that the delivery and inspection sequence of the sample rack cannot be reasonably planned according to the detection priority of the sample rack, and the simple sequential transmission workflow makes optimal combination of different detection devices difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel sample rack manipulation apparatus that allows a proper determination of the order of presentation of sample racks based on the priority of detection of a plurality of loaded sample racks.

It is another object of the present invention to provide further improvements to the sample rack manipulator of the detection system to achieve a doubling of the working capacity of the detection system without increasing the size of the sample rack manipulator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a well-compatible sample rack manipulation device that allows the combination of two detection apparatuses with different detection rates.

The invention is also directed to a detection system and a detection method using the sample rack manipulation device and a computer readable medium allowing the sample detection method to be implemented.

Means for solving the problems

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample rack manipulator for an automated testing apparatus, the sample rack manipulator comprising: a loading/unloading zone configured to enable a plurality of sample racks to be arranged side by side for carrying one or more sample containers holding samples; a sampling area in which samples in each of the sample containers on the sample rack are sampled by the automated inspection device; and the connection device is used for transferring the sample frames between the loading/unloading zone and the sampling zone, wherein the connection device is configured to take out the sample frames to be detected loaded in the loading/unloading zone in any sequence and transfer the taken out sample frames to be detected to the sampling zone for sampling. By means of a docking device configured as described above, it allows flexible retrieval of the sample racks for sampling, either on command or in a set order.

In some embodiments, the docking device may be configured to transfer the sample racks to be tested loaded in the same batch in the loading/unloading zone to the sampling zone in a left-to-right order.

In some embodiments, an emergency channel may be disposed in the loading/unloading zone, and the docking device preferentially transfers the sample rack to be tested loaded in the emergency channel to the sampling zone.

In some embodiments, the sampling area is in the form of a conveyor belt that can be moved back and forth in a continuous or stepwise manner in its direction of extension.

In some embodiments, the loading/unloading zone comprises a separately provided loading zone and unloading zone, to which the inspected sample rack is transferred by the conveyor belt.

In some embodiments, the load/unload region comprises a common load region and unload region.

In some embodiments, two rack-receiving sections are disposed immediately adjacent to each other in the sampling zone, the sample rack being loaded in one of the rack-receiving sections to receive a sample, the other rack-receiving section providing a ready-to-use sampling location.

In some embodiments, the docking device is configured to: the next sample rack to be detected is loaded in the other rack accommodating part section by utilizing the sampling period of the detection equipment; and the unloading of a tested sample rack from the one rack-receiving section and the displacement of the next sample rack to be tested from the standby sampling position to the sampling position are completed with the availability of the sampling period of the testing device, thereby enabling uninterrupted continuous sampling of the testing device.

In some embodiments, the sample rack manipulation device further comprises a buffer zone and a transfer zone. A tag reader is disposed in the transport zone and/or the buffer zone for reading tags carried on the sample racks and/or the sample containers to obtain rack identification information and/or sample identification information relating to the sample racks.

In some embodiments, the sample rack manipulating device may further include a controller, which is capable of determining, according to the read information, a detection priority of each of the plurality of sample racks to be detected, and thus determining a delivery order of the plurality of sample racks to be detected, wherein the docking device is configured to transfer the plurality of sample racks to be detected in the buffer area to the sampling area for sampling according to the determined delivery order.

In some embodiments, the load/unload regions and the buffer regions may be symmetrically arranged about the transfer region and may be configured to have the same sample rack loading capacity.

In some embodiments, the load/unload region may comprise a first rack tray defining a corresponding plurality of lanes for housing a plurality of sample racks; and the buffer zone may comprise a second rack tray defining a corresponding plurality of channels for receiving a plurality of sample racks.

In some embodiments, the first rack tray may be provided with one or more emergency channels on the leftmost side, the docking device may be configured to preferentially transfer the to-be-detected sample rack loaded in the emergency channel to the transfer area and/or the buffer area to read information, and the controller defaults to the to-be-detected sample rack from the emergency channel and carrying the emergency sample to have the highest detection priority.

In some embodiments, for sample racks with the same detection priority, the controller may determine the censorship order in chronological order of entry of these sample racks into the buffer.

In some embodiments, the controller according to the above aspect may further determine a vacancy on each sample rack in which no sample container is placed according to the sample identification information so as to skip the vacancy when sampling, and/or order detection priorities of a plurality of sample containers on each sample rack according to the sample identification information so as to sample in order.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detection system comprising a sample rack manipulation device as described above comprising a tag reader; and an automated inspection device capable of sampling and inspecting sample containers located at a sampling position in the sampling zone of the sample rack manipulator.

In some embodiments, the sample rack manipulator comprises a first sampling area and a second sampling area on either side, and the automated inspection device comprises a first inspection device that samples from the first sampling area and a second inspection device that samples from the second sampling area.

In some embodiments, the first detection device is a clinical chemistry detection device and the second detection device is an immunoassay detection device.

In some embodiments, the sampling period of the first detection device is different from the sampling period of the second detection device.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample presentation method for an automated test apparatus, comprising the steps of: loading a plurality of sample racks to be detected, wherein one or more sample containers for containing samples are carried on the sample racks; reading rack identification information and sample identification information associated with each sample rack to be tested; conveying the sample rack to be detected to a buffer area, wherein the buffer area is a working area shared with a loading/unloading area of the sample rack or a separately arranged working area different from the loading/unloading area of the sample rack; determining the detection priority of the corresponding sample rack to be detected according to the read information, and further determining the submission sequence of the plurality of sample racks to be detected in the buffer area; and submitting the plurality of sample racks to be detected in the buffer area according to the determined submission sequence.

In some embodiments, the sample submission method may further include: determining further from the sample identification information a vacancy on each sample rack in which no sample container is placed for skipping the vacancy at the time of sampling and/or ordering the detection priority of a plurality of sample containers on each sample rack for sequential sampling.

In some embodiments, reading rack identification information and sample identification information may include reading a tag in the form of an RFID tag, a bar code, or a two-dimensional code carried on the sample rack and/or the sample container.

In some embodiments, the sample rack to be detected, which may be loaded in the emergency access, has the highest detection priority by default.

In some embodiments, for sample racks with the same detection priority, the order of submission may be determined according to the time when the sample racks enter the buffer.

In some embodiments, for a sample rack related to a plurality of detection items, the detection priority and the delivery order of the sample rack in the plurality of detection items can be determined respectively, and the sample rack can be delivered sequentially according to the arrival sequence of the delivery time.

In some embodiments, the sample submission method may further include: loading the next sample rack to be detected at the standby sampling position by using the sampling period of the detection equipment; and unloading the detected sample rack from the sampling position and moving the next sample rack to be detected to the sampling position by using the sampling period of the detection device.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable medium having a program stored thereon, the program, when executed by a processor, implementing the sample detection method as described above.

Technical effects

By using the sample rack operating device, the inspection sequence of the sample rack is allowed to be planned as required, the compatibility is strong, the flexibility and the complexity of the random moving route of the sample rack can be reduced, the improved working capacity can be realized, the flexibility of the detection system is improved, the requirement of the integrated design of the detection equipment is met, the energy efficiency and the applicability of the detection system are greatly improved, and the sample rack operating device has wide application prospect.

Drawings

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements, and in which:

fig. 1 schematically shows the configuration of a detection system comprising a sample rack manipulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an exemplary configuration of a detection apparatus that can be used in conjunction with a sample rack manipulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a sample rack manipulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4a to 4c are plan views similar to FIG. 3, showing the transport of the specimen rack to be tested for submission;

FIGS. 5a to 5f are plan views similar to FIG. 3, showing the handling of the specimen rack to be tested and the tested specimen rack;

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a detection method according to an embodiment of the invention; and

fig. 7 illustrates an example of a tag reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

A sample rack manipulation device 10 and a detection system 1 using the sample rack manipulation device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention are described below with reference to fig. 1 to 3.

As shown in fig. 1, the testing system 1 includes a housing (not shown), a first testing device 20 and a second testing device 30 housed in the housing, a sample rack handler 10 positioned between the first testing device 20 and the second testing device 30, a controller 40 in communication with the testing devices 20, 30 and the sample rack handler 10, and a sample rack 50 carrying samples, the cooperation of which enables the testing system 1 to automatically perform clinical chemical, immunological, or genetic testing analysis of a plurality of samples.

Sample rack

The sample rack 50 is used to receive, support, align and hold one or more sample containers 51 containing samples, the sample containers 51 being arranged in a column on the sample rack 50. The number of sample containers 51 that can be carried on a sample rack 50 is typically 6 to 10, and 7 is shown. The number can be comprehensively considered according to the size of the equipment, the waiting sample introduction time of the next sample rack and other factors. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this number. However, the number of sample containers 51 actually filled in the sample rack 50 may be determined according to the actual situation, as clearly shown in fig. 3, the filled circles on the sample rack 50 indicate filled sample containers 51, and the empty circles indicate that the sample container filling positions are not filled with sample containers.

The sample rack 50 may be a sample rack that is common to commonly used sample containers, such as test tubes or cups, and the universal sample rack 50 is commercially available from Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Each sample rack 50 and each sample container 51 on the rack carry an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification, not shown in the figure) tag. The RFID tag on the sample rack 50 may contain rack identification information related to the sample rack and the RFID tag on the sample container 51 may contain sample identification information related to the sample in the sample container. The RFID tag is placed near the bottom of the sample rack so that rack identification information and sample identification information on the RFID tag can be automatically read and identified when the sample rack 50 passes through an RFID tag reader (to be described later). Adjacent RFID tags may not be accidentally read simultaneously by adjusting the transmit power of the RFID antennas.

Detection device

The first and second detection devices 20, 30 may be any suitable conventional automated detection device for testing or processing biological or other chemical samples. For example, the first detection device 20 may be a Clinical Chemistry (CC) detection device, and the second detection device 30 may be an Immunoassay (IA) detection device.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a typical CC detection device 20. The CC detection apparatus 20 may include, for example, a reagent storage 21, a reagent dispenser 22, a sample dispenser 23, a reaction stage 24, a mixing device 25, an optical analysis instrument 26, a cleaning mechanism 27, and the like.

The reagent storage 21 may be one or more circular holders on which a plurality of reagent containers storing a reagent are arranged in the circumferential direction. The reagent storage 21 may be rotated by, for example, motor driving to transfer the reagent container in the circumferential direction. A thermostatic bath (not shown) for cooling the reagent may be arranged below the reagent reservoir 21.

The reaction platform 22 may also be a circular holder on which a plurality of reaction containers are arranged in the circumferential direction, and a plurality of samples to be measured and reagents may be subjected to a desired chemical reaction in the corresponding plurality of reaction containers, respectively. The reaction table 22 may be rotated by, for example, a motor drive to move the reaction vessel in the circumferential direction, which may be a motor different from the motor driving the reagent reservoir 21. A constant temperature bath (not shown) for heating the reaction stage 22 to accelerate the reaction between the sample and the reagent may be disposed below the reaction stage 22. It will be appreciated that the reaction station may also be a device for performing other processes on the sample for detection and analysis.

The sample dispenser 23 includes a support rod 231, an arm portion 232 protruding from an upper end of the support rod 231, and a sampling needle 233 provided at a free end of the arm portion 232. The arm portion 232 is capable of moving in a straight line with the support rod 231, rotating about the support rod 231, and ascending and descending in a vertical direction by the support rod 231 to move the sampling needle 233 between a sampling position at which the sampling needle 233 takes up an appropriate amount of a sample (to be described later) from the sample container 51 moved to the sampling position by the sample rack manipulation apparatus 10; at the discharging position, the sample sucked by the sampling needle 233 is discharged into the reaction container.

The reagent dispenser 22 may be of similar construction to the sample dispenser 23, or both may be of any suitable other dispenser form used in the art and will not be described in detail herein.

After the sample and the reagent are dispensed from the respective dispensers to the reaction vessel, they are uniformly mixed and reacted in the reaction vessel by the mixing device 25. Then, the liquid in the reaction vessel obtained by the reaction between the reagent and the sample is optically analyzed by the optical analysis instrument 26 and the analysis result is output to the controller 40.

The washing mechanism 27 includes a portion for cleaning the sampling needle 233 of the sample dispenser 23, a portion for cleaning the sampling needle of the reagent dispenser 22, and a portion for cleaning the reaction vessel, so as to avoid cross contamination resulting in inaccurate measurement results.

Similar to the CC detection device 20, the IA detection device 30 is also in communication with the sample rack manipulator 10 via a sampling position for sample transfer.

However, it is to be understood that the detection apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the CC detection apparatus and the IA detection apparatus described above, and the first detection apparatus 20 and the second detection apparatus 30 may be different detection apparatuses or may be the same detection apparatus as long as the detection apparatus can be used in combination with a specimen rack manipulation device that supplies a specimen to be detected in the form of a specimen rack.

Sample rack operating device

As shown in fig. 1, the sample rack manipulation device 10 includes a housing 11 and a substantially rectangular inner space S enclosed by the housing 11. For convenience of description, the length direction of the rectangle is defined as the longitudinal direction (y-axis direction in the transfer zone shown in fig. 3), and the width direction of the rectangle is defined as the lateral direction (x-axis direction in the transfer zone shown in fig. 3). Referring to fig. 3, the inner space S of the sample rack manipulation device 10 is divided into five sections, i.e., sampling sections TD and TE extending in the longitudinal direction, and a loading/unloading section TA, an intermediate transfer section TB, and a buffer section TC sandwiched between the sampling sections TD and TE. The housing 11 may include a top wall made of an opaque or translucent plastic panel, which may be fixed to the side wall of the housing 11 by screws or the like, so as to facilitate maintenance of the above-mentioned different regions of the internal space S.

The sample rack to be detected is firstly loaded in the loading/unloading area TA, enters the transfer area TB to read information on the RFID tag and is transferred to the buffer area TC, and is transferred from the buffer area TC to the sampling areas TD and TE on two sides which are respectively butted with the first detection device 20 and the second detection device 30 through the transfer area TB for sampling detection. And the detected sample rack returns to the buffer area TC through the transfer area TB again to wait for a detection result, finally returns to the loading/unloading area TA for unloading if no new round of detection requirement exists, and waits to be sent to the sampling area TD or TE again for sampling detection if a new round of detection requirement exists. Alternatively, the tested sample racks may be returned directly from the sampling zone TD or TE to the loading/unloading zone TA via the transfer zone TB.

The configuration of the above five regions is described in detail below.

The loading/unloading area TA is provided at the front of the inner space S of the sample rack manipulation device 10, being a rectangular area provided next to the front wall 111 of the housing 11, the rectangular area being sized to allow a plurality (12 shown in the drawing) of sample racks 50 to be arranged side by side in the lateral direction. The first rack tray 112 is disposed in the loading/unloading area TA and defines a corresponding plurality of lanes (lanes 1-12) in which a plurality of sample racks 50 are placed.

A door 110 is provided on the front wall 111 of the housing 11 at a position corresponding to the loading/unloading zone TA, and the door 110 is pivotably connected at the bottom thereof to the front wall 111 of the housing 11, whereby the door 110 can be pivoted about the bottom thereof to the outer side to a horizontal position flush with the bottom of the first rack tray 112, so that an operator can easily load or withdraw the sample rack 50 carrying the sample container 51 into or from the passage of the first rack tray 112 of the loading/unloading zone TA.

In each channel area at the bottom of the first rack tray 112, a sensor for detecting whether or not a sample rack is loaded in the channel is provided. LED indication lamps 109 corresponding to the respective channels are provided on the top surface of the door 110. Each LED indicator light 109 is capable of displaying a different color in response to loading and detection of a sample rack in its corresponding lane. When the door 110 is in the closed state, the LED indicator lights 109 face the operator, and the operator can determine the loading and detection conditions of the sample rack in each lane, including the conditions of not loading the sample rack, loading the sample rack to be detected, and loading the detected sample rack, according to the color of the LED indicator light 109 corresponding to the lane.

A buffer area TC for temporarily storing the information-read specimen rack to be detected is provided at the rear of the inner space S of the specimen rack manipulation apparatus 10, corresponding to the loading/unloading area TA. The size and configuration of the buffer zone TC is substantially the same as the load/unload zone TA, except that no LED indicator light is provided for operator viewing. A second rack tray 113 is provided in the buffer zone TC, the second rack tray 113 defining a plurality of lanes as many as the number of lanes in the loading/unloading zone TA to allow the same number of specimen racks 50 to be arranged side by side in the lateral direction.

The first rack tray 112 and the second rack tray 113 may be integrally formed with the housing 11, or may be separately formed and fixed to the housing 11.

Between the loading/unloading zone TA and the buffer zone TC is a transfer zone TB. The transport zone TB is dimensioned in the longitudinal direction slightly larger than the longitudinal length of the sample rack 50 to allow free passage of the sample rack 50 in the transport zone TB in the x-axis direction. It should be noted that the sample rack 50 is always oriented with the longitudinal direction and the y-axis direction consistent throughout the testing process, i.e., in the sample rack manipulation device 10.

In the transfer zone TB a docking device 114 is arranged. The docking device 114 is controlled by a separately provided x-axis motor, y-axis motor, and vertical motor. By driving these motors, the translation of the docking device 114 in the x-axis direction in the transfer zone TB, the expansion and contraction of the operating rod and thus the sample rack 50 in the y-axis direction, and the lifting and lowering of the operating rod in the vertical direction perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis can be realized. Thus, the docking device 114 can extract the sample rack 50 from the passage of the loading/unloading zone TA or the buffer zone TC and keep it fixed to the docking device 114, can carry the sample rack 50 to move back and forth in the x-axis direction in the transfer zone TB, can insert the carried sample rack 50 into the passage of the loading/unloading zone TA or the buffer zone TC, and can unload the carried sample rack 50 to the sampling zones TD and TE on both sides, thereby enabling the transfer of the sample rack 50 between the 5 working zones of the sample rack manipulator 10.

When the buffer zone TC is not full, the docking device 114 may transfer the sample rack to be detected in the loading/unloading zone TA to the buffer zone TC to wait for detection. As shown in fig. 4a, the sample rack 50 to be detected is transferred from the loading/unloading zone TA to the transfer zone TB by the docking device 114 of the transfer zone TB, the rack identification information and the sample identification information are read by the RFID tag reader in the transfer zone TB, and then the sample rack 50 to be detected carried is transferred to the no-loading channel of the buffer zone TC and inserted into the channel by the docking device 114 by moving in the x-axis direction in the transfer zone TB, so as to complete the transfer of the sample rack to be detected from the loading/unloading zone TA to the buffer zone TC.

The sample racks to be detected can be loaded in the loading/unloading area TA in a sequential or unordered arrangement. Whether placed sequentially or out of order, for sample racks 50 loaded in the same batch, the docking device 114 transfers from the loading/unloading zone TA to the buffer zone TC in the order from left to right in the figure (from 1 lane to 12 lanes); for sample racks 50 loaded in different batches, the docking device 114 will also be transported from the loading/unloading zone TA to the buffer zone TC in a batch-wise order from left to right. So as to avoid that the sample rack with the front loading lot but the right loading channel cannot be transferred to the buffer TC in time for detection.

According to embodiments of the present invention, an RFID tag reader may be integrated on the docking device 114. When the docking device 114 lifts the sample rack 50 out of the passage of the loading/unloading zone TA and loads the sample rack on the docking device 114, the sample rack 50 is first pulled to a tag reading start position where the RFID tag reader is placed, and then the sample rack 50 is moved through the tag reading start position in a stepwise manner to read information on each RFID tag one by one and transmit the read information to the controller 40. Integrating the tag reader on the docking device and allowing direct reading of the sample rack loaded on the docking device enables a compact, fluid spatial layout of the sample rack manipulation device 10.

The label reading is also finished when the sample rack 50 is completely transferred from the loading/unloading zone TA onto the docking device 114 of the transfer zone TB. The docking device 114 moves in the x-axis direction and approaches one of the no-load channels of the buffer TC to transfer the sample rack 50, and then inserts the sample rack 50 into the channel.

According to an alternative embodiment shown in fig. 7, RFID tag reader 501 may be positioned at a location where transfer zone TB is adjacent to buffer zone TC. Thus, when the docking device 114 unloads the sample rack 50 from the docking device 114 to the passage of the buffer TC, the sample rack 50 is first pulled to the tag reading start position where the RFID tag reader 501 is placed, and then the sample rack 50 is moved through the tag reading start position in a stepwise manner to read the information on each RFID tag one by one and transmit the read information to the controller 40. After reading the information on the labels of the sample rack 50 and the respective sample containers 51, the sample rack 50 is loaded onto the docking device 114, and the docking device 114 then transports the sample rack 50 to another non-loading lane of the buffer TC to wait for sampling. It should be understood that the location of the tag reader 501 is not limited to the specific example shown in the figure, and may be located entirely in the transit zone TB or entirely in the buffer zone TC, for example.

The controller 40 determines the detection priority of the current sample rack 50 based on the rack identification information and the sample identification information received from the RFID tag reader, and determines the order of delivery among all the prioritized sample racks 50 loaded in the buffer TC by the sample rack 50 based thereon. For example, the detection priority of the sample rack may be determined as four levels from low to high, the priority of the level is high, and the sample racks in the same level may be further sorted based on the sequence of the loading time of the loading batch or even the loading time of the same batch, so as to determine the order of the sample racks to be detected. Of course, the above four-level division is merely exemplary, and the number of levels may be appropriately determined according to the capacity of the sample rack to be detected, such as a buffer, and the ease of level division. For example, the number of levels may be any natural number equal to or greater than 2.

In addition to the above-described methods, the controller 40 may determine the detection priority of the sample rack to be detected according to any other suitable criteria, which can be easily understood by those skilled in the art according to actual needs by reading the present invention, and thus fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, 1 to 2 channels may be marked in the loading/unloading area TA as emergency channels, the docking device 114 may preferentially transport the sample rack to be detected loaded in the emergency channel and read the information, and when the read sample identification information indicates that the sample rack to be detected from the emergency channel carries the emergency sample, the controller 40 will default that the sample rack to be detected from the emergency channel and carrying the emergency sample has the highest detection priority. In some examples, the emergency lane may even be used only for processing emergency samples, for the sample racks to be detected in the emergency lane, the controller 40 may directly determine it as having the highest detection priority and rank at the first submission without further consideration of their rack identification information and sample identification information. Considering that the docking device 114 takes the sample racks to be tested from the loading/unloading zone TA in the order from left to right, the leftmost 1 and/or 2 of the loading/unloading zone is usually used as emergency treatment channel.

When the next sample rack to be detected needs to be transferred from the buffer TC to the sampling region TD or the sampling region TE for sampling detection, the controller 40 sends an instruction to the docking device 114 according to the detection order and the detection content, informs the buffer region channel number (1 to 12 channels) and the target sampling region where the next sample rack to be detected is located, and transports the specified sample rack to the target sampling region by the docking device 114 according to the instruction, wherein the transport process is shown by a solid arrow in fig. 4 b. Since the sampling regions TD and TE are similar in structure and function, only the sampling region TD will be described as a target sampling region, and the case of the sampling region TE is similar. The designated sample rack 50 is first taken out from the buffer zone TC onto the docking device 114 of the transfer zone TB, the designated sample rack 50 is transported by the docking device 114 to the target sampling zone TD, and the sample rack 50 is transferred to the sampling position P for sampling in the sampling zone TD.

The sampling regions TD and TE are respectively arranged on both sides in the transverse direction of the loading/unloading region TA, the transit region TB, and the buffer region TC disposed side by side. The sampling regions TD and TE are in the form of conveyor belts extending in the longitudinal direction, the transverse width of the conveyor belts being set to a width that allows accommodation of only one sample rack, and the conveyor belts can be advanced and retracted in the y-axis direction in a continuous manner or in a stepwise manner.

When the sample rack 50 to be tested is transferred from the buffer zone TC to the sampling zone TD by the docking device 114, the conveyor belt moves up to transport the sample rack 50 to the sampling position P. As described above, at the sampling position P, a sample is aspirated from the sample container 51 located at the sampling position P on the sample rack 50 by the sampling needle 233 of the sample dispenser 23 of the CC testing apparatus 20, and then the aspirated sample is transferred to the first testing apparatus 20 for CC testing. That is, the sampling position P becomes an interface of the sample rack manipulator 10 with the detection devices 20 and 30. When sampling the sample containers 51 on the sample rack 50 one by one, the conveyor belt is displaced in a stepwise manner, each time by the distance separating two adjacent sample containers, whereby the positioning operation by means of the sensor can be simplified.

When the sampling of all samples on one sample rack 50 is completed, the conveyor moves the tested sample rack down to the interface 115 (see fig. 3) between the transfer area TB and the sampling area TD, and the tested sample rack is carried away by the docking device 114 and returned to the unloaded path of the buffer area TC via the transfer area TB to wait for the test result, as shown by the solid arrow in fig. 4 c. If there is no new round of detection requirement, the docking device 114 transfers the detected sample rack in the buffer zone TC to the loading/unloading zone TA for unloading; if a new round of testing is required (either the same CC testing or a different IA testing), the tested sample rack in one round waits to be sent to the sample area TD or TE again for the next round of sampling testing. In case no repeated testing is required, the tested sample racks may optionally be returned directly from the sampling zone TD or TE via the transport zone TB to the loading/unloading zone TA, as indicated by the dashed arrows in fig. 4 c.

Further, the docking device 114 and its transport path are unidirectional as required for the compactness of the design space, and in order to meet the detection speed throughput requirements of the detection apparatus and to improve the sample rack circulation efficiency, the conveyor belt according to the embodiment of the present invention is continuously formed with the upper and lower rack receiving sections 107 and 108 at the intermediate position to provide the standby position for the next sample rack to be detected. Only when either the upper rack receptacle section 107 or the lower rack receptacle section 108 is aligned with the interface 115, the conveyor belt allows either to receive a sample rack 50 from the docking device 114 of the transfer zone TB or to return a tested sample rack 50 to the docking device 114 of the transfer zone TB. In this case, it is conceivable to complete the alternation of the already-tested sample rack and the next sample rack to be tested with a short space of the testing period of the testing device after completion of sampling to achieve continuous operation of the testing device. See fig. 5a to 5f for specific operation.

Reference is first made to the process shown in fig. 5a to 5c, wherein there is a # 2 sample rack in the upper rack-receiving section 107 in the sampling zone TD being sampled, the lower rack-receiving section 108 is in an unloaded state and the # 1 sample rack in the buffer zone TC is the next sample rack to be tested. In this case, as shown in fig. 5a, when the sample operation of # 2 sample rack is about to be completed, the # 1 sample rack is moved out of the buffer TC by the docking device 114 and transferred to the interface 115. When the sample rack # 2 is finished sampling into the empty period of detection, the lower rack-receiving section 108 is moved to a position facing the interface 115 and the sample rack # 1 is loaded into the lower rack-receiving section 108 by the docking device 114. Next, as shown in FIG. 5b, the conveyor belt moves down to align the rack receptacle section 107 with the interface 115, and the # 2 sample rack is removed from the rack receptacle section 107 by the docking device 114 and transported back to the buffer zone TC. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5c, the transport belt moves upward to transport the # 1 sample rack in the rack-receiving section 108 to the sampling position for sampling.

Referring next to the process shown in fig. 5d to 5f, where there is a sample rack # 2 in the lower rack-receiving section 108 in the sampling zone TD being sampled, the upper rack-receiving section 107 is in an unloaded state and the sample rack # 1 in the buffer zone TC is the next sample rack to be tested. In this case, as shown in fig. 5d, when the sample operation of # 2 sample rack is about to be completed, the # 1 sample rack is moved out of the buffer TC by the docking device 114 and transferred to the interface 115. When the sample rack # 2 is finished sampling into the empty period of detection, the rack receiving section 107 is moved to a position facing the interface 115 and the sample rack # 1 is loaded into the rack receiving section 107 by the docking device 114. Next, as shown in FIG. 5e, the conveyor belt moves up to align the rack-receiving section 108 with the interface 115, and the # 2 sample rack is removed from the rack-receiving section 108 by the docking device 114 and transported back to the buffer zone TC. At the same time, the transport belt transports the # 1 sample rack in the rack-receiving section 107 to the appropriate sampling position to receive a sample, as shown in FIG. 5 f.

In the above process, the next sample rack to be tested is transported to the interface 115 in advance, after the sampling of the previous sample rack is completed and the test cycle is entered, another rack-free accommodating portion section is moved to the interface 115 to load the waiting next sample rack to be tested, and then the tested sample rack is unloaded. Therefore, the next sample rack to be detected can be transported from the buffer zone TC to the interface 115 of the sampling zone TD and the transfer zone TB at the same time as the sampling of the previous sample rack, and the return of the detected sample rack can be carried out at the same time as the sampling of the next sample rack to be detected, so that the sample waiting time of the next sample rack to be detected is greatly shortened. Accordingly, the docking device 114 is also further designed to meet the loading/unloading operation time requirements. Thereby, uninterrupted continuous operation of the detection device is achieved.

The sampling position P is typically selected to start sampling of the first sample of the sample rack from the sample container in the off-center position of the sample rack 50, rather than starting sampling of the first sample of the sample rack from the sample containers at the two ends of the sample rack 50. Therefore, the moving distance of the sample rack can be reduced, and the sample waiting time of the next sample rack can be shortened. The sampling position P may be appropriately determined according to the number of sample containers 51 carried on the sample rack 50 or the longitudinal dimension of the conveyor belt, or the like.

It can be seen that with the above described embodiment of the sample rack manipulation device 10, the present invention is capable of achieving at least the following outstanding advantages.

(1) The detection priority of each sample rack can be determined according to the rack identification information and/or the sample identification information of the sample racks to be detected, and the submission sequence of the sample racks to be detected is further determined according to the detection priority. In addition, in the above-described confirmation process of the detection priority of the sample rack, the detection priorities of the plurality of sample containers on the sample rack may be further sorted by the controller according to the sample identification information, so that when the samples on the sample rack to be inspected are sampled, the samples are sequentially sampled according to the detection priorities of the respective sample containers. In other words, the sample rack manipulation device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention not only allows the sample racks to be sequentially checked according to the detection priorities of the sample racks, but also allows the samples to be further sequentially sampled according to the detection priorities of the respective samples on the checked sample racks, thereby greatly improving the flexibility and applicability of the detection system, and shortening the waiting time of urgent samples, which is beneficial to improving the user experience. In addition, the controller can also determine the vacant positions on each sample frame, in which the sample containers are not placed, according to the sample identification information so as to skip the vacant positions for sampling. That is, the sample rack to be tested may be non-full. For example, in an example where a sample rack may carry 7 sample containers, the sample rack to be tested is allowed to carry 1-7 sample containers.

(2) In this embodiment, the load/unload zone TA and the buffer zone TC are each equipped with 12 sample rack loading lanes, so that the sample rack loading capacity of the entire sample rack manipulator 10 amounts to 24. Compared with a sample rack manipulating device in which the loading area and the unloading area are separately arranged without a buffer area, the sample rack manipulating device 10 of the present invention has a multiplied sample rack loading capacity, so that the efficiency of the whole detection system is greatly improved, and the labor force can be saved. During operation of the inspection system 1, the operator can unload the inspected sample racks individually or in batches in the loading/unloading area TA and load new sample racks to be inspected according to the prompt of the LED indicator lamp 109, as long as the number of sample racks loaded in the entire apparatus does not exceed 24. The system may alert the operator when the system reaches a maximum loading capacity based on signals provided by the sensors at each station that the system is fully loaded.

(3) While the loading capacity is increased, flexible routing is allowed. Although the basic route of transport is described above, the design concept of the present invention allows for more complex arbitrary route design. For example, when the buffer zone is full, the docking device may transfer a newly loaded sample rack to be detected from the loading/unloading zone TA into the transfer zone TB, read the rack identification information and the sample identification information in the transfer zone TB by the tag reader, and then return the sample rack to be detected to the loading/unloading zone TA. At this time, the information of the specimen rack to be inspected and the positioning thereof are already stored in the controller 40, and can participate in the sorting waiting inspection. This route is particularly advantageous for designs provided with emergency access. In this case, the next specimen rack to be tested that is sent for sampling can come from the loading/unloading zone TA, as indicated by the dashed arrows in fig. 4b, 5a and 5 d. In addition, as mentioned above, the sample rack after one round of detection may be sent back to the buffer TC to wait for the result to be detected, and when it is determined that the sample on the sample rack needs to be detected for a new or more rounds of the same or different detection, the sample rack waits for the next round of inspection in the buffer TC, otherwise the sample rack is transported to the loading/unloading area TA for unloading. For example, when the same rack needs to complete the CC test and the IA test in this embodiment, the rack will take part in the sorting of the two tests and the first test, and after the first test is completed, the rack will be returned to the buffer TC to wait for the second test, as shown by the solid arrows in fig. 4c, 5b, and 5 e. However, in case multiple rounds of testing are not required, the tested sample rack may simply be transported directly from the sampling zone TD or TE to the loading/unloading zone TA for unloading, as indicated by the dashed arrows in fig. 4c, 5b and 5 e.

(4) By providing a buffer zone and two separate sampling zones, the sample rack manipulation device 10 has good compatibility, enabling different detection devices to be integrated in a system sharing a load/unload zone, a transport zone and a buffer zone. It is known that the sampling period and the detection period of different detection devices are different in length. Taking two types of detection devices in the embodiments as examples, the sampling period of a single sample for CC detection is, for example, about 9 seconds, and the sampling period of a single sample for IA detection is slightly longer, for example, about 36 seconds. Conventional sample rack manipulators employ simple sequential transfers making integration and integration of different testing devices difficult. With the sample rack manipulation device 10 of the present invention, however, combinations of test devices can be realized as long as sample transfer at the sampling area can be realized.

Controller

A microcomputer is used as the controller 40 of the detection system 1. The controller 40 includes a control section, an input section, a first detection result analysis section for the first detection device, a second detection result analysis section for the second detection device, a censorship order determination section for the specimen rack manipulation apparatus, a storage section, and an output section. The control unit is connected to the detection device, the sample rack manipulator, and other units of the controller, and controls the operation thereof. The detection result analyzing section and the censorship order determining section execute a specific algorithm and program based on data from the input section, various sensors, an analyzing instrument, a tag reader, and the like to realize the analysis of the detection results and the determination function of the censorship order, and output the analysis report and the determination result through a display, a printer, and the like as the output section. The storage unit stores various programs and data required for the program.

The sample detection method shown in fig. 6 can be performed by the detection system 1 described in the above embodiment. First, a plurality of specimen racks to be tested are loaded at the loading/unloading zone of the specimen rack manipulation device (step S1). Next, in the transfer area, the rack identification information and/or the sample identification information of each sample rack to be detected is read by the tag reader, and the information-read sample rack to be detected is transferred to the buffer area by the docking device (step S2). The controller determines the detection priority of the corresponding sample rack to be detected according to the read rack identification information and/or the sample identification information, and determines the submission order of the plurality of sample racks to be detected in the buffer (step S3). Then, the docking device in the transfer area transfers the plurality of sample racks to be tested in the buffer area to the sampling area according to the inspection sequence determined by the controller, and the sample racks are subjected to sampling inspection by the inspection device (step S4).

Although in the illustrated embodiment, the first and second detection devices 20 and 30 are incorporated on either side of the sample rack manipulation device 10. The present invention is not so limited and the sample rack manipulation device 10 of the present invention may incorporate a detection apparatus on only one side. In this case, accordingly, the sample rack manipulation device 10 may be provided with only one sampling region TD.

In the embodiment shown, the loading and unloading zones of the sample holder are not provided separately, but rather their function is performed by a common loading/unloading zone. The present invention is not limited thereto and a separate unloading zone may be additionally provided in a downstream area of the conveyor belt opposite to the upstream loading zone.

In the embodiment shown, the load/unload and buffer zones of the sample rack manipulator are arranged substantially symmetrically, but the buffer zones may have different sample rack capacities than the load/unload zones, depending on the circumstances.

In the embodiment shown, the information reading tag is in the form of an RFID tag, but any suitable tag form that allows automatic identification and reading of information, such as two-dimensional codes, bar codes, etc., may be used.

While various embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been specifically described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and modifications described above but may include other various possible combinations and combinations. Other modifications and variations may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, all the components described herein may be replaced by other technically equivalent components.

Claims (21)

1. A sample rack manipulation device (10) for an automated detection apparatus (20, 30), the sample rack manipulation device comprising:

a loading/unloading zone (TA) configured to enable a plurality of sample racks (50) to be arranged side by side for carrying one or more sample containers (51) containing samples;

a sampling area (TD, TE) in which samples in each of the sample containers on the sample rack are sampled by the automated detection device; and

a docking device (114) for transferring the sample rack between the load/unload zone and the sampling zone,

the connecting device is configured to be capable of taking out the sample frames to be detected loaded in the loading/unloading area in any sequence and transferring the taken out sample frames to be detected to the sampling area for sampling.

2. The sample rack manipulation device of claim 1, wherein the docking device is configured to transfer a same batch of loaded sample racks to be tested in the loading/unloading zone to the sampling zone in a left-to-right order.

3. The sample rack manipulation device of claim 2, wherein an emergency access is provided in the loading/unloading zone, and the docking device preferentially transports a sample rack to be tested loaded in the emergency access to the sampling zone.

4. The sample rack manipulation device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sampling area is in the form of a conveyor belt that is movable back and forth in a continuous or stepwise manner in its direction of extension.

5. The sample rack manipulation device of claim 4, wherein there are two rack receptacle sections (107, 108) located immediately adjacent to each other in the sampling area, the sample rack being loaded in one of the rack receptacle sections to receive a sample, the other rack receptacle section providing a ready-to-use sampling position.

6. The sample rack manipulation device of claim 5, wherein the docking device is configured to: the next sample rack to be detected is loaded in the other rack accommodating part section by utilizing the sampling period of the detection equipment; and the unloading of a tested sample rack from the one rack-receiving section and the displacement of the next sample rack to be tested from the standby sampling position to the sampling position are completed with the availability of the sampling period of the testing device, thereby enabling uninterrupted continuous sampling of the testing device.

7. The sample rack manipulation device (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer zone (TC) and a transport zone (TB),

wherein a tag reader is provided in the transport zone and/or the buffer zone for reading tags carried on the sample racks and/or the sample containers to obtain rack identification information and/or sample identification information relating to the sample racks.

8. The sample rack manipulation device of claim 7, further comprising:

a controller (40) capable of determining the respective detection priority of the plurality of specimen racks to be detected according to the read information, and further determining the order of submission of the plurality of specimen racks to be detected,

wherein the docking device is configured to transfer the plurality of to-be-detected sample racks in the buffer area to the sampling area for sampling according to the determined delivery sequence.

9. The sample rack manipulation device of claim 8,

the load/unload region includes a rack tray (112) defining a corresponding plurality of channels for receiving a plurality of sample racks; and is

One or more emergency channels are arranged on the leftmost side of the first support tray, the docking device is configured to preferentially transfer the sample rack to be detected loaded in the emergency channel to the transfer area and/or the buffer area to read information, and the controller defaults that the sample rack to be detected loaded with the emergency sample from the emergency channel has the highest detection priority.

10. The sample rack manipulation device of claim 9, wherein for sample racks having the same detection priority, the controller determines the presentation order in chronological order of entry of the sample racks into the buffer.

11. The sample rack manipulation device of claim 8 or 9, wherein the controller is further capable of determining a vacancy on each sample rack for which no sample container is placed based on the sample identification information so as to skip the vacancy when sampling, and/or ordering detection priorities of a plurality of sample containers on each sample rack based on the sample identification information so as to sample sequentially.

12. A detection system (1) comprising:

the sample rack manipulation device of any one of claims 1-11; and

an automated inspection device capable of sampling and inspecting sample containers located at a sampling location in the sampling region of the sample rack manipulator.

13. The detection system of claim 12,

the sample rack manipulation device includes a first sampling region and a second sampling region on both sides, and

the automatic detection device includes a first detection device sampled from the first sampling region and a second detection device sampled from the second sampling region.

14. The test system of claim 13, wherein the first test device is a clinical chemistry test device and the second test device is an immunoassay test device.

15. A sample submission method for use with automated inspection equipment, comprising the steps of:

loading a plurality of sample racks to be detected, wherein the sample racks are used for carrying one or more sample containers for containing samples;

reading rack identification information and sample identification information associated with each sample rack to be tested;

conveying the sample rack to be detected to a buffer area, wherein the buffer area is a working area shared with a loading/unloading area of the sample rack or a separately arranged working area different from the loading/unloading area of the sample rack;

determining the detection priority of the corresponding sample rack to be detected according to the read information, and further determining the submission sequence of the plurality of sample racks to be detected in the buffer area; and

and submitting the plurality of sample racks to be detected in the buffer area according to the determined submission sequence.

16. The sample presentation method of claim 15, further comprising: determining further from the sample identification information a vacancy on each sample rack in which no sample container is placed for skipping the vacancy at the time of sampling and/or ordering the detection priority of a plurality of sample containers on each sample rack for sequential sampling.

17. The sample submission method of claim 15 or 16, wherein the sample racks to be tested that are loaded in the emergency corridor by default have the highest detection priority.

18. The sample submission method of claim 17, wherein the submission order is determined in accordance with the order of time at which the sample racks enter the buffer, for sample racks having the same detection priority.

19. The sample submission method of claim 15 or 16, wherein, for sample racks relating to a plurality of test items, the test priorities and submission orders of the sample racks in the plurality of test items are determined respectively, and the sample racks are submitted sequentially according to the arrival sequence of submission times.

20. The sample presentation method of claim 15 or 16, further comprising:

loading the next sample rack to be detected at the standby sampling position by using the sampling period of the detection equipment; and

unloading the tested sample rack from the sampling position and moving the next sample rack to be tested to the sampling position by utilizing the sampling period of the detection device.

21. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a program which, when executed by a processor, implements the sample detection method of any one of claims 15-20.

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