DE2538286A1 - Conveying samples of e.g. blood, serum through testing equipment - esp. for medical laboratory diagnostic tests, using e.g. photometry - Google Patents

Abstract

The step-wise conveying is achieved using cassettes, each consisting of a rack for the sample containers and a holder for the rack. The steps in the conveying route can be varied independently of one another w.r.t. distance travelled, speed, and residence time at each station. The cassettes can be selectively conveyed through different routes to separate end stations, or along parallel routes to a common end station. The sample containers remain in the cassettes throughout the process and errors due to removal and incorrect replacement are avoided.

Description

"Procedure for the promotion of sample containers for the reception of essentially liquid substances " The invention relates to a method for conveying sample containers for holding essentially liquid Substances such as blood, serum or the like. For transferring into individual process stages a prescribed treatment, the respective final evaluation by measuring - e.g. by means of a photometer - can optionally be included, especially in the Framework of medical laboratory technology.

There are known methods and devices by which - albeit in a different way and with different means - final evaluations in the same or parallel Areas can be hit.

About these, mainly used in the context of medical laboratory technology Processes and the devices used in the context of these processes give, among other things, the brochures from Eppendorf give a certain overview, although in this context on the Eppendorf leaflets "Substrate measuring station 5091", "Rotary mixer 3300", Thermostat 3401 "," Photometer "and the representation of a photometric workstation is referred.

According to the status shown in these publications in particular the art it is provided that a work vessel holder with a plurality of Containers, i.e. small, open or lockable plastic pots of the literature referred to, there are 24 pieces - loaded and in these pots or sample tube, the patient serum is pipetted in the prescribed amount and the necessary reagents are added.

After this preparation, the work vessel holder becomes a corresponding Shaking mixer abandoned and the samples thoroughly mixed. Is the presettable one Mixing time has elapsed, depending on the regulation, the material to be measured is at a certain Temperature and incubated for a period of time, the temperature range between - 180 to + 600 is adjustable. For this purpose, the work vessel holder is from Vibrating mixer placed on the actual incubator. It is here usually around a block incubator, the recesses of which correspond to the shape of the measuring container and which is generally made of light metal and is equipped with means for supplying and removing heat.

After the preset incubation time has elapsed, the individual Measuring container fed to the photometer. Here - according to the state of the art - provided that the individual sample vessels, according to the order of their registered Input or classification in the work vessel holder, removed from it and in the be chained in the same order.

This concept is made possible by a special design of the sample container at the periphery - offset by 1800 - corresponding coupling organs are arranged. The chain is by a sprocket of the appropriate pitch or Like. Transported to the end station, here a corresponding sample from each container sucked off, fed it to the photometer and printed out the measured result, while the remaining contents of the actual sample container and the sample container are emptied be thrown out as waste.

So much for the state of the art.

The preparatory measures described at the beginning - based on the addition of the substance to be treated and any reagents into the sample containers until the end of the incubation period - are therefore carried out or initiated manually, in some cases the reaction: the individual stations run semi-automatically or fully automatically is controlled.

The subsequent chaining of the containers is inevitable associated with manual removal from the vessel holder and thus offers a Source of danger for possible misclassification of the vessels, which is practically a misjudgment and can endanger the patient.

Such a hazard is caused by the possibility of decoupling if there is resistance within the system, i.e. if the chain breaks Still promoted Basically, every dissolution is one that is combined in a tube holder Sample group and their introduction into an ongoing process - same] valid whether as single units, linked single units or in form a newly formed group - fraught with risks.

Likewise, the state of the art does not allow a simple measure to be carried out recognize that, for example, would make it possible that the path of the sample - after desse; Passing through a number of common stations - in two or more, Process roads leading to different end stations can be divided or that part of the sample if the normal procedure is continued of Remaining part can be moved into a waiting loop, e.g. a cooling station. However, the existence of such possibilities is in the interests of procedural economy - especially in view of the rising costs of health care - of great Importance.

From the stated prior art and its criticism emerges the task is to present a process for group-wise promotion of Probebehältnis sen of essentially liquid substances, preferably in the frame medical laboratory technology, which a) the containers during the process run left in their cassettes until the end of the line; b) the division of the course of proceedings after the goods have passed through one or more stations in different ways u allows the introduction of queues for part of the goods, and c) the Process sequence can be fully or partially preprogrammed.

In summary, the aim of this invention is one in its process design Movable process for the rational and exact determination of the to be measured Values and their final evaluation during the conveyance of the material to be measured via an in to represent the predetermined path in every detail.

The inventive method provides that the sections Funding in each case from a record and a plug-in block socket for the containers existing: cassettes are made, the steps related to the length of the Way, the speed and the dwell time in the individual stations independently of one another can be preset and that the usually single-lane procedural path on a case-by-case basis is adjustable and controllable by switches leading to different end stations or merged via detour loops to a common end station.

By conveying the containers in sections in a cassette or in their record, without any change to the terminus, the number of possible Sources of error as mentioned in the criticism of the prior art reduced to a minimum. The entire cassette is funded and on a case-by-case basis Individual measures to be taken, such as the later addition, if necessary of reagents, for example by means of a template guide of the adding device carry out the sequence according to and in each case in predetermined amounts.

The possibility of varying the stride and distance as well as the the residence time give the process the necessary scope, in particular with regard to the formation of branches and loops caused by switches.

Regardless of this, however, it can be useful to carry out the individual process steps to be initiated manually at the end of the preliminary process.

This is not the norm; the possibility of Optima) results However, this should not be excluded will.

For the normal case, however, it is provided that individual, one after the other the following process steps or the entire process sequence through a preselector is adjustable.

The cartridges are conveyed by one or more adjustable Step mechanism (s), whereby when using several lifting step conveyor mechanisms one behind the other the commissioning of which is determined by the full course of the pre-process.

This measure, which is known in and of itself, ensures that that no new stage of the procedure is initiated until the other is complete is completed.

Regarding the conveying process itself, it should be noted that the lift-step conveyors a motor-driven crank mechanism each for conveying the cassettes have, the stroke is adjustable and a crank in or on a Guide track located cassettes over the support plate for the conveyor and lift bars is conveyed, the arranged in a further support plate electromagnetically actuated conveyor lift bars are retractable and extendable, and these bars respectively at the end of the stroke lower or raise the cassettes, the crank the support plates returns, afterwards - or after a presettable number of idle strokes of the Crank and the support plates -the conveyor lift bars raised or lowered again and the cassettes in repetition of the measures mentioned step by step in the same way Direction further promotes until either the end station is reached is or the handover to one or more subordinate (s), practically in any Angle attachable further lift (s) - step conveyor (s) takes place.

This, even manually, easily in its horizontal and vertical Stroke pre-adjustable stroke step conveyor is preferably operated in such a way that that, starting from an optimal crank speed, which is usually at the maximum Speed of the crank mechanism is given, the number of possible vertical movements the hub is regulated. The number of impulses required to take effect the magnet can be adjusted with simple means, e.g. by a known adjustable Step-by-step switch, preset and integrate into the overall control of the process.

The size of the vertical stroke is determined by the limit stop. The number of vertical strokes of the conveyor lifts determines the number of effective ones Horizontal drawers.

The possible transfer of the cassettes to one or more downstream (5) Lifting step conveyor (s) that can be set at practically any angle are permitted the simple division of the procedure into different paths.

Since in general the space available for the implementation of the Procedures required equipment are limited, it is provided that the handover takes place on the downstream lift-step conveyors at an angle of 900.

If this measure is taken twice in a row, then receives parallel to the first path, a return path, which is important for the sake of clarity and the mentioned general lack of space is an advantage.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the transfer to a subsequent station starting from normal height, positively or negatively offset in height.

Such a measure is in no way complex, it requires just a coordination of the normal height of the lifting step conveyors and the lifting height of the lifting conveyor strips to each other. This possible "stairway" is of great interest in the context of the overall training of the workplace.

In conclusion, it must be stated in relation to the course of the procedure that the conveying steps and the dwell time of the cassettes in the individual stations one attached to them according to the stop, color, magnetic tape or the like. Principle Coding and a corresponding pre-selection input device are manageable.

Since these tax options are considered in detail and for themselves are known in principle, their suitability should not be examined in detail will.

The easy controllability of the input device and the absolute effectiveness of coding.

In summary, it should be noted that the method according to the invention meets the requirements of the task in every respect, practically all conceivable sources of error eliminated and the medical laboratory technology largely eliminated streamlined.

The method according to the invention is attached by the «Scheme and Detailed representations explained by way of example.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the process sequence of a relatively simple one Treatment of a serum optionally with manual loading of the sample tube with Serum and a reagent and the also possible automated introduction of the Procedure; Figure 2 shows the design of a lifting step conveyor, as it is in the frame the process sequence of Figure 1 can be used for the promotion of the cassettes; Figure 3 shows the main component of a cassette, namely the so-called "Rek", in which The sample tubes remain through the entire process.

The lower parts corresponding to the record and the sample tubes, E.g. the mixing attachment or the temperature control attachment of the incubator can be used on a case-by-case basis remain in the mixing station or in the incubation station or else - for example in the interest of low temperature changes - as part of the cassette in the further funding channels are included; Figure 4 the cassette guide via a feed, a cross conveyor and a discharge.

The mentioned lift step conveyors are used for the infeed and outfeed used, the cross conveyor works on the same principle.

Figure 1 is divided into two fields by a thick line, where the upper field marked by hand 1 is manual loading the sample tube 6 via the pipette 4 with a reagent 3 and via the syringe 5 with a serum and their classification in the mounting holes 7 in the record 8 of the Kasetie 8 '.

The area of the automatic process is through the stylized factory building 2, with the double arrows between 1 and 2 indicating this should that both the process sequence according to 1, i.e. the manual processes, with in the automatic sequence according to 2 can be included or vice versa, the process sections after 2 can be initiated completely or partially manually.

The cassette 8 'is fed onto the mixer 9 according to the proposed route Spent by a conveyor and there with a frequency of 12 heart and an amplitude of 1 mm mixed for a preset time and thereafter to that actual incubator 10 promoted, the material to be tempered during a to the prescribed temperature within a range of presettable time spends.

After the intended dwell time, the cassette 8 'can be in the Intermediate station 11 promoted and here via the pipette 4 the individual sample tubes 6 another reagent 3 can be supplied.

Starting from the intermediate station 11, the cassette 8 'is again in the mixing station 9 spent, the reagent 3 intimately mixed with the rest of the material and then transferred back to the incubator 10. As from the labeling from 10 (sun and ice flower) can be seen, the good can be frozen as also be heated. The normal working range of the incubator 10 is between - 180 and + 600 C adjustable, with an extension of this range, both after up and down, is possible at any time.

In the interests of saving time, however, it is advisable to use two incubators 10 to be arranged in parallel and each one for heating purposes and one for cooling purposes to use.

This possible advantageous parallel arrangement was shown in the drawing not recorded.

Starting from the incubator 10, the cassettes 8 'become the sampler 12 promoted, the lids of the sample tubes in the order of the specified coding pierces, takes a sample and sends it to the evaluation 13, which in general consists of a photometer 14 and a printer 15. The promotion over the entire Depending on the coding, the procedure is carried out using something not shown here control systems known per se by the lift-step conveyors described later 16.

The procedure described here is true for many cases Common in practice, but by no means mandatory. On the contrary, the process flow at any time through switches or intermediate stations and subsequent return in individually expand the intended circle or to another final evaluation.

Alternatively, one or more timers can be used when setting the temperature (er) are provided so that, for example, during a presettable minimum time the sample is frozen and thus made resistant, while conversely the heating can be extended over any length of time.

The lifting step conveyor 16 shown in Figure 2 for the promotion the cassette 8 'is to be addressed as the most important means of performing the method. The lifting step conveyor 16 is built on a base plate 28, the supports of the pillow block bearings for the motor plate 29 of the geared motor 33 and the guide columns 32.

The output shaft of the geared motor 33 is as one through the motor plate 29 leading stub axle formed, which in turn supports one in their Horizontal stroke adjustable crank 26, which with its cam roller 24 in the slot guide 25 of the lower support plate 21 'engages. The lower support plate 21 'is on the four bearing eyes 31 on the two guide columns 32 in both directions of the stroke movable. At the same time, the lower support plate 21 'supports four magnets 30, which act on the upper support plate 21 via magnetic plungers 23 and spring 22. The top and bottom dead center of the vertical limitation are not shown by adjustable stops specified. The maximum vertical number is the same as the specified number of horizontal strokes and can be programmed with any Number of horizontal idle strokes, by moving the upper support plate 21 into their lower dead center, can be reduced accordingly.

The upper support plate 21 are the conveyor and lifting bars 20 for transmission connected to the feed movement on the cassette 8 '. The lift bars 20 take hold through the guideway, which is not drawn in detail, and move - secured by this - the good to be measured successively according to the default settings.

The Rek 8 is explained again in detail by FIG. Here pos. 7 form the mounting holes for the sample tubes 6. in which pos. 34 are Codes arranged, which are detected by scanner 35 and according to the preset Process sequence are evaluated, the evaluation of the continuation of the funding, the additional reagent feed, the mixing, the incubation, the determination an interim result or the determination and printing of the final result may include.

This list is lacking in completeness, it is only intended Provide information on the possibilities of the procedure.

The coupling of two lifting step-by-step conveyors 16 shown with a cross conveyor 37, the feed 36 via a lifting step conveyor 16 takes place via the pair of strips 20 reaching into the recesses 38 and the discharge 39 is analogous.

This possibility of staggered continuation of the iteks 8 is in the Important for the design of the work plan.

Of course, this is only an example. The discharge from Cross conveyor 37 can be kept variable, with two in the same direction Hub-step works 16, for example, a parallel return is possible.

Claims (8)

P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e 1. Procedure for conveying sample containers for admission of essentially liquid substances such as blood, serum or the like. For transfer in individual procedural stages of a prescribed treatment, with the respective Final evaluation by measuring - e.g. by a photometer - can optionally be included, in particular in the context of medical laboratory technology, characterized in that the sections Funding in each case from a record (8) and a plug-in block socket for the containers existing cassettes (8 ') * and the steps related to the length of the path that Speed and dwell time in the individual stations are independent of each other can be pre-set and that the usually single-lane procedural path, on a case-by-case basis is adjustable and controllable by switches leading to different end stations or merged via detour loops to a common terminus. * takes place, 2. Modification of the method according to claim 1, characterized in that d a ß the individual Process steps after the preliminary process, each by manual operation can be initiated. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that d a ß individual the following process steps or the entire process sequence a pre-dialing device can be set. 4. The method according to claim 1 and 2 or 3, characterized in that d a ß the conveyance of the cassettes (8 ') by one or more adjustable lift-step conveyor (e) (16) takes place, with the use of several lifting step feeders (16) one behind the other the commissioning of which is determined by the full course of the pre-process. 5. The method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in d a ß the Lift-step conveyors (16) for the promotion of the cassettes (8 ') each one motorized have driven crank mechanism whose stroke is adjustable and via a crank (26) the cassettes (8 ') located in or on a guideway via the Support plate (21) for the conveyor and lifting bars (20) is conveyed, the in a further support plate (21 ') arranged, electromagnetically actuated conveyor lifting rails (20) are retractable and extendable and these bars (20) each with the end of the Lift or lower the cassettes (8 '), the crank (26) lifts the support plates (21 u. 21 '), afterwards - or after a presettable number of idle strokes the crank (26) and the support plates (21 and 21 ') - the conveyor lift bars (20) again raised or lowered and the cassettes (8 ') in repetition of the measures mentioned further promotes step by step in the same direction until either the end station (12) is reached or the transfer to one or more downstream (s) -, Additional lifting step conveyor (s) that can be attached practically at any angle (16) takes place. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that d a ß the handover takes place on the downstream lift-step conveyors (16) at an angle of OK °. 7. The method according to claim 5 and 6, characterized in that d a ß the transfer to a subsequent station starting from normal height, positive or negative offset in height. 8. The method according to claim 1 and 3 to 7, characterized in that d a ß the conveying steps and the residence time of the cassettes (8 ') in the individual Stations by one on them after the stop, color, magnetic tape or the like. -principle applied coding (34) and a corresponding pre-selection input device are controllable. Blank page