JPS63106565A - Vessel discriminator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 3j Eyes and Stops - With the increasing use of analytical and clinical instruments, automated specimen handling trends are predominant. In such automated specimen handling, patient or other specimens are typically inserted by a user into various containers arranged in the form of racks or trays or plates for later automated analysis.

The plate is then manipulated such that each container within the plate is positioned below a specimen collection location where a needle is inserted into the open container and the specimen is removed and delivered to the test instrument for processing. Recently, with the advent of microprocessor control of various mechanisms, systems have been adopted in which a specimen collection needle is positioned relative to each container and inserted into each container to remove the specimen for processing.

Regardless of the system used, a weakness in automated specimen handling is that the technician or user must insert specimens into designated containers and insert two or more specimens into a single container. The problem lies in the lack of ability to confirm that something has not been done. The containers are numbered so that the technician can insert the specimen into the appropriately numbered position. However, it is very possible that the technician will accidentally insert the specimen into the wrong container. This applies in particular when using microtiter plates.

Microtiter plates are typically plastic plates having a plurality of containers arranged in columns and rows. Because the dimensions of a microtiter plate are small and the dimensions of each container are even smaller, the technician uses a pipette or other specimen feeding device such as a syringe to introduce the various specimens to be analyzed into appropriate containers. That is difficult. It is very easy for a technician to supply a specimen in an incorrect manner, thereby causing loss of analytical pursuit of a particular patient's specimen.

In fact, most devices currently in use rely heavily on the integrity of the technician to ensure that such confusion and mispositioning does not occur.

However, experience shows that this is not always the case. Whenever the human factor intervenes, specimens are misplaced and misplaced, or two specimens are inserted into a single container at the same time, creating unnecessary confusion and requiring specimen collection twice. There is a possibility that this will not happen. All of this not only increases the suffering of the patient, but also increases the frustration of those who need the test results. Also, if the specimens were mixed up, this would result in a very great risk to the patient.

Many of these shortcomings of the prior art include the difficulty in assuring the actual container position of a specimen introduced into one of a plurality of containers arranged in a column and row (or row and column) arrangement. The system will eliminate or reduce the number of devices that can be identified. Of course,
The specimen is introduced into each container by a human or robotic handler using some type of delivery tube such as a pipette, syringe, etc. The apparatus for identifying container positions includes first means for detecting the presence of successive supply pipes in any row of the container rows; second to detect the presence of
and in response to each of the first and second means,
means for generating a signal indicative of the location of a container present at the intersection of columns and rows in which the presence of the delivery tube is detected, thereby positively identifying or identifying the location of the container in relation to the specimen delivery tube; Be prepared. Advantageously, the presence of a delivery tube is only detected if the reading tube is continuously present in a column or row for a predetermined period of time. Additionally, means are provided for providing a visual indication of the position of the sensed container in response to said signal.

The first and second means each consist of a light emitting diode and a photodetector located at opposite ends of each column and row. Preferably, the detectors are monitored in a similar sequence.

In this way, the power required is reduced and the system complexity required for simultaneous sensing of all columns and rows is also reduced. Sequential detection provides sufficient speed for a human operator to take action. Finally, to assist the technician, means are provided for illuminating the desired container into which the specimen is to be placed. In this way, the position of the specimen is detected and recorded even if the specimen is introduced into the wrong container.

The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A typical environment in which the system of the present invention may be used is most clearly shown in the perspective view of FIG. That is, this figure also shows the keyboard 12 and the specimen to be analyzed. < shows an instrument 10 having a cavity 14 adapted to receive a microtiter plate or other matrix device capable of holding a container adapted to receive a sample. be. The neck of the cavity 14 is provided with a ring or a ring having an infrared light emitting source such as a light emitting diode 1g (LED) mounted on two adjacent sides and a corresponding photodetector 20 mounted on the two adjacent sides. A frame 16 is provided. The diodes and detectors are arranged in a matrix or array arrangement, with the miraculous intersection between each diode and detector corresponding to a container position on the microtiter plate.

The microtiter plate is shown more clearly in FIG. It should be noted that although a microtiter plate is shown, it could alternatively be a rack or tray of the type holding various fixed or movable containers adapted to receive the specimen to be analyzed. it is obvious. All that is important is that the various containers are arranged in rows and columns so that their positions can be detected optically by preferably orthogonal LED detectors 20.

It is also advantageous for the microtiter plate itself to be constructed from molded plastic forming a plurality of containers 24 arranged in rows and columns. The neck of the container 24 is coated with a thin film 26, such as an ionomer resin, and a second thin film 26 is attached to each container 2.1 as indicated by reference numeral 29.
A slit may be formed in advance to allow for a horizontal approach. On one side of the microtiter plate,
Advantageously, a barcode label 31 is attached for identification purposes. Furthermore, the container 14 is equipped with a barcode reader 3 of known type for detecting barcodes.
It has 3. Note that LED 18 and detector 20 are located in a plane above the plane of microtiter plate 22.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the bottom surface of the cavity 14 has a number of orifices 35 in which visible pre-light guides 37 are located.

Each diode 37 is connected to the container 2 of the microtiter plate.
Corresponds to one of 4.

This facilitates illumination of the particular container in which the specimen or sample is placed, as discussed below.

Also, a microtiter plate sensor (optical sensor) could be arranged to detect the presence of a microtiter plate within the cavity 14. Note that sensors are not shown for clarity of illustration. FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the specimen insertion controller shown in FIG. 1, which allows reliable identification of the container position of the introduced specimen.

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller IO includes a microprocessor 34, which may be a Motorola rMc 68701J.

This microprocessor has an LED 18 and a detector 2
0 (FIG. 1). Microprocessor 34 also drives LED 18 and detector 20 (FIG. 1) to
It is connected to drive an infrared LED multiplexing circuit that generates a return signal representative of the vessel position into which the specimen is actually introduced. At the same time, a microprocessor controlled visible light LED multiplexing circuit 40 is connected to drive the specimen insertion visible light LED matrix 37 (FIG. 1). Also, the keyboard interface 44
is connected to the keyboard 12 (FIG. 1).

Finally, the IR3485J interface 42 is connected to a high rank host computer 50 and barcode reader 33 (FIG. 1) via flexible connections J6 and JIO.

Specimen insertion controller 10 includes, for example, the circuitry shown in Figures 4A and 4B adapted to operate with a 6 row by 8 column microtiter plate. The functionality of these work station electronics, including the microprocessor 34, is controlled by various visible light sources with associated detectors 20.
The purpose is to drive the ED array 37 and the infrared LED matrix 18. In addition, the microprocessor
The microtiter plate sensor 32 can be controlled and interacted with using the keyboard 12. A total of 14 IR (infrared) LEDs 18 and 14 corresponding detectors 20 are provided. Detector and LE
8 of each D are matrix holders 16
(Fig. 1). Also, six each are arranged along opposite orthogonal sides of the matrix holder to define a matrix that grows 48 intersections corresponding to the containers of the microtiter plate.

Microprocessor 34 has 29 parallel input/output lines;
128 Pieton RAM, 204.8 Pietono 0VER
O! 4 and a serial communication interface.
It is a chip computer. The microprocessor is
As already mentioned, there are two sets of multiplexers used to control the LEDs used in the system, namely:
Controls a multiplexer that turns on various LEDs and corresponding detectors one at a time. The LEDs and detectors are switched on and off faster than the human eye can respond and appear to the observer to be continuously "on." LEDs are “on” one at a time
This reduces the power consumption of this panel. The infrared LEDs and the corresponding detectors are placed opposite each other in a rectangular grid configuration, as described above, so that the microprocessor identifies one LED while observing the output of the corresponding detector. It can operate at a sufficiently high speed. The microprocessor then checks the following positions until a positive response is detected:
That is, the process repeats until the beam is scattered and the column or row disturbed by the specimen placement is detected.

Microprocessor selection switch IRLED is turned "on" by setting address IRADO13. These output lines connect TTL logic used in microprocessors to M
It is connected via a suitable buffer 54 which converts to OS level. The output designated MIRADO-3 controls multiplexer 56. These multiplexers 56
is simply an analog switch that selectively connects the output of the detector 20 to sequentially obtain the output signal from its common terminal. This output signal is connected to an amplifier 58. Voltage amplifier 60 and comparator 62 generate an output "sense" signal that is fed back to the microprocessor. There is a high level if there is no change in the light traveling from the activated infrared LED to the corresponding detector.

On the other hand, if there is a change, ie, a disturbance in the infrared beam traveling from the LED to its detector, the output sense signal will be at a low level.

The microprocessor also has six address lines VRADO-2 to control the selection of a single visible light LED 37.
and VCADO-2. These address lines are connected to 8 columns (VRAO~7) of LEDs 37 via a decoder.
1 column and 6 rows (VCAI-7) f7) L
Address one line of ED 37. When one column and one row are selected, one LED 37 located at their intersection lights up.

The microprocessor also performs l1l, indicated by block 42.
s 485J interface line 42 to higher rank computers 50 . This high ranking computer provides instructions to the microprocessor as to which container to load, when to read the bar code, and when the operation is complete. These commands are two-character commands followed by alphanumeric character data as necessary. These commands will be explained later with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The keyboard 12 is a microprocessor input KBDi.
8 is connected. The signal can be appropriately pulled up with a 447 kilohm resistor and fed to the third port of the microprocessor. Information is stored in the processor's memory by the KBFTRB line connected to port 20 of the processor.

Operation In a typical operation, for example, the specimen is pipetted,
A syringe or other suitable dispensing device is used to load each container of the microtiter plate. A microtiter plate sensor detects the presence of the plate. One of the visible light LEDs 37 indicates the particular container into which the specimen is to be loaded by centrally identifying the desired container from below through the transparent plastic microtiter plate. At the same time, an orthogonal grid of infrared LEDs and detectors is placed around the cavity 14 in a plane above the microtiter plate. In this way, if a loading device such as a pipette or syringe interrupts the infrared light path of the LED/detector pair, the microprocessor, which constantly cycles through all IR positions, will detect this beam disturbance. do. The microprocessor also determines the actual loaded container location, whether or not it is an illuminated container. This actual position is compared to the desired position, ie, the position of the emitted visible light LED, at which the user is asked whether or not he or she wishes to insert it. The microtiter plate is equipped with a barcode league whose output is read and recorded by the computer and the information is transmitted to a host computer 50 (Figure 3) for updating and continued use of the microtiter plate. be able to.

The operation at the work station itself will be more clearly understood by referring to the flowchart on page 5. The first step (Figure 5A) consists in initializing the peripheral hardware connected to the microprocessor. This requires setting the serial interface parameters appropriately, resetting all array addresses for the light emitting diodes, and checking all RAM. The next step consists in setting up a background routine that is executed cyclically during addressing of the infrared light emitting diodes. This is done in the interrupt handler software. Every 20 milliseconds, an interrupt occurs, at which point the software moves the address counter to the next LE.
Update to select D.

The interrupt handler should record the location of the disturbance and flag the main routine where this disturbance occurred. Although this may not be clearly understood at this stage,
However, from the description below, it will be clear how the software uses this information to determine where the user has injected the specimen.

At this point, the software is in a loop waiting for commands to be input by the computer or the user. The software will remain in this loop forever if not commanded or acted upon. The only work accomplished by the microprocessor is the interrupt handling described above. There are two possible exit paths from this test routine. The user inputs commands via the keyboard. Therefore, the computer must monitor the keyboard until the user obtains the information he or she wants to enter.

Once the user's input is obtained, the command must be decoded. As a result, a task is executed or the required information is sent to the host computer. The host computer is also another means of inputting instructions.

Information is received by the microprocessor via the rR3485J communications link. This information is decoded and stored in a buffer until the entire command sequence is sent. It then checks the lookup table of active directives to see what the next task is. This routine is rD
It is called "O command".

This routine runs through all possible command strings and if a match is found, the program
Submit the flow to complete the task or check the next command. All commands are checked and if no valid match is found, the software provides an error message to the host computer (see Section 5).
Figure and Figure 5F). There are numerous error messages that can be sent to a host computer.

The types are as follows.

Ol: Microtiter plate is not installed.

02: Container loading error, detection of container ID (identifier) 03:
Microtiter plate long loading 04: Illegal command received from host computer 05: Command buffer full - illegal user input Therefore, error code 4 as a result of the type of error described above
is generated and transmitted to the host computer.

At this point, the software should actually have valid instructions. Each of the commands will be described in detail later (FIG. 5C). The first item to be discussed is the plate input (PI) routine that allows the user to manually install the microtiter plate. In the first step at the specimen introduction station, the user places the microtiter plate for the specimen to be loaded. This can be done at any time, but for purposes of explanation it will be assumed that this task is coordinated by the host computer.

In the first step of this task or activity, a valid IP command is received from the host computer 50. The software follows the program flow to the PI routine (Figure 5).
, and monitor port 10 of the microprocessor. Although this boat is used for many purposes, an IR sensor 32 (4A It is used to read out the output of (Figure). If this bit is set,
Microtiter plates are set up. Otherwise, the software increments the counter. The counter is then checked to see if its contents are at a maximum. A maximum value counter indicates that the user took an excessively long time to install the microtiter plate. As a result, error 3 is sent to the host computer.

On normal exit, ie, return set in bit 8, an acknowledgment signal is sent back to the host computer to notify it of successful entry. It is return or feedback. The background program is running all the time, and if the microtiter plate is installed, all beams should be perturbed very uniformly. This information is used as a check on the microtiter plate insertion sensor 32 to ensure proper operation.

At this point the microtiter plate is installed and the host computer knows that the plate is installed. The next step is specimen plate identification. The host computer begins this process by sending a BC command (Figure 5E). The BC command instructs the software to read the barcode tape 31 on the side of the microtiter plate 22. Each microtiter plate has its own barcode.

This allows all specimen plates to be separated from each other.

The BC command is also required to specify another (R34) for the software.
85) Command the command to be sent to the barcode reader via the line. The barcode reader starts reading and if the reading is successful,
Sends a valid barcode back to the work station's microprocessor. This requires the work station's software to search for a starting character, typically an asterisk or aslerisk, for the barcode. The information following the athleisure risk is stored in a buffer until a second athleisure risk or star is received.

At this point the software has received the complete barcode.

Information is transferred from the temporary buffer in which it is stored to the transmit buffer. A send routine is called that allows the information in the send buffer to be transferred to the host computer.

At this point, the host computer has the information necessary to reference the database for a particular microtiter plate.

With the new microtiter plate, the user can insert specimens into any of the 48 available containers. If the microtiter plate has already been used, the host computer searches the database for that microtiter plate to determine the next available specimen container.

The work station software then receives command WN (Figures 5L and 5M) followed by two numbers. These two numbers represent the next container that the host computer wishes to load. However, this does not mean that the user must load the specimen into this container, only that it is desirable to do so. The container is illuminated by software that sends visible LED (vLED) addresses to visible LED selection logic. The desired container to be loaded is thereby backlit.

The user then takes a sample and introduces it into the illuminated container with a pipette or syringe. In a background routine, detect which orthogonal beam set is perturbed and flag it in memory with the vessel number. This information is then sent back to the host computer to report that the appropriate container has been loaded, or the number of the container that was actually loaded.

This background program is designed to illuminate only one infrared LED at any particular time. The software then monitors the direct detector response from the LED.

If a positive response is obtained, the software scans the opposite axis LED and detector to determine the other axis coordinate. The axis coordinates thereby correspond to the actual container position.

Specimens can be loaded repeatedly until the user desires to stop. At this point, host computer 50 requests the work station to notify the user to remove the microtiter plate. This is accomplished by command routine RP (Figure 5H). In this routine, all visible LEDs will light up to instruct the user to remove the microtiter plate. The software monitors the microtiter plate presence sensor to know when the user removes the microtiter plate. The microprocessor then
An acknowledgment signal is sent back to the host computer to perform further operations on the specimen plate.

A clear command CL (FIG. 5G) is sent, and the illumination in the specimen cavity is canceled.

This concludes the description of the single specimen insertion software package. This software is relatively simple but allows for accurate specimen placement as well as communication of specimen insertion parameters to a large scale host computer. This circuit and software provides a host-performing means of reliably inserting specimens into chemical instruments.

Referring to Figure 5, this figure shows high-ranking posts and
A typical manner in which computer 50 operates the entire system is shown in a flowchart.

At the beginning of the program, commands are sent to the work station called PI, which is the (microtiter) plate insert as described above. Host system 50 remains in this loop continuously until an acknowledgment is returned from the work station. When the specimen plate (in this example the microphone rotator plate) is finally received, the work station enters the Get Plate Number routine. The host system then issues a 13C command, which is a bar code reading command to the work station. The work station begins the reading process and once it obtains a valid barcode, it returns the information to the host computer 50, which displays the plate number. The user can, if desired, compare the displayed plate number with the predicted plate number to increase the level of safety in the system. When host computer 50 receives the barcode number, it correlates the plate with a database.

Every plate has its own unique number.

The database is now checked to find the next available container in the microtiter plate. If this container is a new container, the container is 1.

The target is also displayed on the host computer's CRT screen, and the host computer also
Send N command to work station.

This WN command is followed by a two-digit number which is the container to be loaded by the user. At the work station, the visible light LED located on the underside of the container is then energized. In response to brompting, the user inserts the specimen into the container, thereby blocking the orthogonal infrared beam as described above.

At the work station, an indication is generated as to whether the container that received the specimen is correct or incorrect.

The "all good" light goes out (CL routine).

When the beam is interrupted, the work station sends back an update signal, the data base is updated, and an RP command is sent to the work station, prompting the operator to remove the plate. In the case of the wrong container, the work station sends out the container number in which the specimen was inserted. The host computer can then update its database to reflect the actual container. The system then prompts the operator to enter the patient's identification number. At this point, the user enters the desired test request for the specimen in question. The RP command energizes all visible light LEDs on the underside of the plate, and the user is then alerted to remove the plate. The host computer displays "Plate Removal" on the CRT and specimen processing begins awaiting an acknowledgment from the work station.

As described above, the system operates in a user-friendly manner to appropriately assist the technician in inserting the specimen into the specimen holder and to ensure that the specimen is properly inserted as instructed. - A relatively simple system to perform the check was mentioned. The plastic container is illuminated to indicate to the user where the specimen should be inserted, and a relatively simple infrared LED detector matrix is used to determine whether the specimen has been properly inserted into the desired container. is detected and a judgment is made. If it is not inserted properly,
The actual container that received the specimen is detected. A keyboard interface as well as an interface to the host computer is provided. Although it has been stated that infrared diode illumination is used, it should be understood that visible LEDs could equally be used. Also, other sample introduction devices can be used if desired. In the case of microtiter plates, multiple containers arranged in a rack or similar configuration can also be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a pictorial perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention for accommodating a microtiter plate and automatically locating a container in the microtiter plate into which a specimen is introduced; FIG. 2A; FIGS. 2B and 2C show a microtiter plate in plan and front elevation, respectively; FIG. 3 shows a system for reliably identifying the container position of specimens according to the present invention; FIG. Figures 4A and 4B are block diagrams of 2A and 4B.
Figures 5A-5M illustrate the system used in the work station to cooperate with the sensors for each microtiter plate shown in Figures 2C and 5A-5M. FIGS. 6A to 6C are flowcharts for explaining the sequential operations, and FIGS. 6A to 6C are flowcharts for explaining the operations of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 12...Keyboard 14...Cavity 18...Issuing diode (LED) 20...Photodetector 22...Microtiter plate 24...
- Container 32...Microtiter plate sensor 33...
Barcode league (reading device) 34... Microprocessor 35... Orifice 37... Visible light emitting diode 40... Visible light LED multiplexer 44... Keyboard interface 50... Host computer 58 .60...Amplifier 62...Comparator Patent applicant: 2 people other than E.I. Dupont de Nemoirs & Company J Puzo 5M Head ± oral procedure amendment (method) % formula % ■, case Indication of 1986 Patent Application No. 164118 2, Name of the invention Container identification device 3, Relationship to the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant address 1007 Market Street, Ilmington, Plateau, United States of America Name E.I. Dupont de・Nemo Earth & Company 4, Agent 7, Contents of the amendment: Engraving of the drawing originally attached to the application ・As shown in the attached sheet (no changes to the content)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An apparatus for positively identifying which container of a plurality of containers arranged in an orthogonal arrangement of columns and rows receives a specimen supply tube, comprising: a first means for detecting the consecutive presence of said supply tube in any column; a second means for detecting the consecutive presence of said supply tube in any row of said container rows; responsive to each of the first and second means for generating a signal representative of the location of a container present at the intersection of the column and row in which the presence of the supply tube is detected, thereby associating the container with the specimen supply tube; and means for reliably detecting the position of the container. 2) The container identification device according to claim 1, which detects the presence of the sample supply tube only when the sample supply tube is continuously present in a column or row for a predetermined period of time. 3) A container identification device according to claim 2, further comprising means for generating a visual indication of the position of the detected container in response to said signal. 4) The first and second means each consist of a light emitting diode and a photodetector arranged at opposite ends of each column and row, each light emitting diode being energized sequentially. The container identification device according to item 3. 5) A container identification device according to claim 4, further comprising means for illuminating the container into which the specimen is to be inserted. 6) Means for providing a visual indication of the position of the detected container in response to said signal.
Container identification device as described in Section. 7) The first and second means each comprise a light emitting diode and a photodetector arranged at opposite ends of each column and row, each light emitting diode being sequentially energized. Container identification device as described in Section. 8) A container identification device according to claim 1, further comprising means for illuminating the container into which the specimen is to be inserted.