RU2778286C1 - System and method for automated archiving of test tube data - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: data processing.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to archiving test tube data and can be used in processing clinical laboratory test data. Substance of the group of inventions consists in automatically determining groups of tubes in a stand according to the purpose channels thereof by a sorting apparatus and indicating groups of tubes in the stand in accordance with the selected purpose channel by the same apparatus.

EFFECT: simplified stage of sorting the test tubes and reduced risk of error in the implementation of the method for automated archiving of test tube data.

17 cl, 10 dwg

Description

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to tube data archiving and can be applied in the process of clinical laboratory sample data processing.

As a prototype, a system and a method for automated archiving of test tube data are selected, while the system includes a computing device with a database of racks with test tube data assigned to them, an electronic laboratory instrument and a device for sorting tubes, and the method consists in assigning test tube data to a rack by the computing device, in which test tubes are installed by obtaining data from the rack identifier and tube identifiers by an electronic laboratory instrument, working with test tubes, sorting a plurality of test tubes into racks by a test tube sorting device, placing racks in racks and archiving data by saving data about the rack in which the racks are located in the computing device with test tubes [US2020264200, publication date: 08/20/2020, IPC: G01N 35/00].

The disadvantage of the prototype is the high complexity of the stage of sorting the tubes and the high risk of errors in the implementation of the method of automated archiving of tube data, which is due to the high probability of making an error if it is necessary to select tubes from racks along their channels (laboratory departments) destination. Due to this shortcoming, tubes intended for another or other destination channels may accidentally fall into a rack for tubes corresponding to only one destination channel, which, with large volumes of samples, especially during periods of a pandemic, can lead to a significant increase in the time and labor costs of laboratory personnel for search among many thousands of tubes for the one that was intended for the selected channel, and under the worst circumstances, it can be lost, which excludes the possibility of further processing of the sample stored in it and its data and significantly reduces the efficiency of automated archiving of tube data.

The technical problem to be solved by the group of inventions is to increase the efficiency of automated archiving of tube data.

The technical result, to which the group of inventions is directed, is to simplify the stage of sorting tubes and reduce the risk of errors in the implementation of the method for automated archiving of tube data.

The essence of the first invention from the group of inventions is as follows.

The system for automated archiving of test tube data includes a computing device with a database of racks with test tube data assigned to them and a means for obtaining data from the rack identifier and from test tube identifiers connected to it, and an automatic sorting device, while the computing device is configured to assign test tubes to racks. Unlike the prototype, the computing device is configured to automatically register the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack, taking into account the data received from the means for obtaining data from the rack identifier and from the tube identifiers, including data on the tube destination channel, the system contains a means for selecting the tube destination channel, and the automatic sorting device is configured to automatically determine the groups of tubes in the rack by their destination channels, taking into account the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack and data on the selected tube destination channel, and indicate the groups of tubes in the rack in accordance with the selected destination channel.

The essence of the second invention from the group of inventions is as follows.

The method for automated archiving of test tube data includes assigning test tube data to a rack in which test tubes are installed by a computing device by obtaining data from the rack ID and test tube IDs, subsequent sorting of test tubes and archiving of test tube data. Unlike the prototype, in the process of assigning the test tube data to the rack data in which the test tubes are installed, the computing device automatically registers the location of the test tubes in the wells of the rack, in the process of sorting the test tubes, the required tube assignment channel is selected, the sorting device automatically determines the groups of test tubes in the rack by their destination channels and indicating by the same device to groups of tubes in a rack in accordance with the selected destination channel, after which the tubes corresponding to one destination channel are installed in another rack, data is obtained from the identifier of this rack and the identifiers of the tubes, which are stored by the computing device in the process data archiving.

The identifier on the rack and tube can be represented by an optical or radio frequency label in the form of a barcode, QR code, or RFID tag and provides the ability to register and unambiguously identify the rack and tubes in the database by the computing device. The identifier on the tube includes information about the tube destination channel. A tube destination channel refers to a laboratory department or referral. The stand provides fixation of the spatial position of the test tubes and can have a round or rectangular base. Test tubes are any container or container for laboratory samples.

The means for obtaining data from the rack ID and data from the tube IDs can be represented as one or more devices. Its specific implementation may vary depending on the type of identifier on the rack and tube. If the identifier is represented by an optical label, then it can be represented as a scanner. If the identifier is represented by a radio frequency tag, then it can be represented as a radio frequency signal receiver.

The database can be represented as a laboratory information system (LIS), which stores tube data in a table format, including the tube identifier with information about the channel (laboratory department) of the tube destination.

The computing device provides the ability to process and save data and can be represented as a personal or industrial computer, a server cell, a smartphone, etc. At the same time, to enable user interaction with the database, the computing device contains an interface.

The computing device automatically registers the location of the test tubes in the wells of the rack. This process can be carried out by automatically filling the table for each individual rack by entering the data transmitted to the computing device by the means of obtaining data from the rack identifier and data from the tube identifiers. The data from the tube identifiers is then sequentially assigned to the data of each individual well of the rack.

The tube destination channel selector allows the user to enter data about the required tube destination channel and can be represented as an interface of a computing device.

To simplify the process of automatically registering the location of tubes in rack wells and reduce the risk of errors during automated archiving of tube data, an automatic scanner can be used. It comprises a movable (linearly or circularly moving) rack platform equipped with a stepper motor, the aforementioned means for obtaining rack ID data and tube ID data, and an automatic scanner controller connected thereto. At the same time, the option is not ruled out, in which the platform can be made static, and the means for obtaining data from the rack identifier and data from the tube identifiers can be made movable. In this case, the controller is configured to be connected to a computing device. The controller can be loaded with an autoscanner program that allows the movable platform to move to a home position specified by the location of the rack ID or by the selected start well of the rack. Also, an automatic scanner program can be loaded into the controller, which, when executed, provides the ability to move the means for obtaining data from the rack ID and data from the tube IDs along the side/sides or around the rack. When acquiring data from tube IDs set in a single row rack, the program can move the movable platform to the next well immediately after receiving data from one tube ID. When receiving data from tube IDs installed in a multi-row rack, the program can move the mobile platform to the next well only after receiving data from all ID tubes available at this position. In this case, test tubes in a multi-row rack for reading identifiers can be installed in a checkerboard pattern. It is also possible that the portal design of the scanning device can be used.

To reduce the risk of errors in the process of automatically registering the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack, the automatic scanner may include a tube ID scanning progress indicator connected to the controller. In this case, a program for registering the receipt of data from the rack identifier and data from the tube identifiers can be loaded into the controller. In the absence of registration of receipt of one or two types of data at once, the controller can activate the corresponding sound or light signal of the indicator, thus warning the user about incorrect installation of the rack or test tube. In this case, the scanning process can be continued, and the tube data can be entered manually. Additionally, to reduce the risk of errors in the process of automatically registering tubes in the wells of the rack, the automatic scanning device can be equipped with a means for obtaining tube cap color data, and the controller can be configured to register tube cap color data and enter this data into the LIS.

Tube sorting provides the ability to identify groups of tubes in a rack that correspond to the same destination channel. Automatic detection of groups of tubes in a rack by their destination channels and indication of groups of tubes in a rack in accordance with the selected destination channel is carried out by an automatic sorting device. It comprises means for obtaining data from a rack ID, a rack sorting platform, and an automatic sorter controller connected thereto. At the same time, the controller of the automatic sorting device is configured to be connected to a computing device to obtain data on the wells of the rack, each of which is assigned tube data that stores information about its destination channel.

The sorting platform contains indicators, which can be light or mechanical. Each indicator is located opposite the well for installing a test tube mounted on a platform tripod. The program of the automatic sorting device is loaded into the controller, during the execution of which it is possible to activate the indicators of the sorting platform in accordance with the selected tube destination channel. The selection of the tube destination channel can be carried out in this case via the interface of the computing device.

Additionally, to simplify the tube sorting process, the automatic sorter may include a tube destination channel selector connected to the controller. This tool can be presented in the form of a touch or keypad, a multi-position switch, etc.

Additionally, an automatic multifunctional sorter can be used to facilitate automated archiving of tube data. The automatic multifunctional sorting device makes it possible to sequentially perform the process of registering the location of tubes in the wells of a rack, selecting the required channel for assigning tubes, determining groups of tubes in a rack by their destination channels, and indicating by the same device to groups of tubes in a rack corresponding to the selected destination channel. It includes a sorting and movable rack platform equipped with a stepping motor, a means for obtaining data from the rack ID and data from the tube IDs, and a controller connected to them. At the same time, the programs of the automatic scanning and sorting devices are loaded into the controller. Also, in addition to reducing the risk of errors in the process of automated tube data archiving and simplifying this process, the automatic multifunction device may also contain a tube ID scanning progress indicator and a tube destination channel selector connected to the controller of the automatic multifunction sorter.

After sorting, the tubes corresponding to one destination channel are placed in another rack. Then the computing device receives data from the identifier of this rack and the identifiers of the test tubes, which are stored by the computing device during data archiving. At the end of the data archiving process, the rack with test tubes is moved to the storage.

A group of inventions can be made from known materials using known means, which indicates its compliance with the patentability criterion "industrial applicability".

The group of inventions is characterized by a set of essential features previously unknown from the prior art, characterized in that in the process of assigning test tube data to the data of a rack in which the test tubes are installed, the computing device automatically registers the location of the test tubes in the wells of the rack, in the process of sorting the test tubes, the required destination channel is selected tubes, automatic detection by the sorting device of groups of tubes in a rack according to their destination channels and indication by the same device to groups of tubes in a rack in accordance with the selected destination channel, after which the tubes corresponding to one destination channel are installed in another rack, data is received from the identifier this rack and tube identifiers, which are stored by the computing device during data archiving. The set of essential features of the invention makes it possible for the sorting device to identify those groups of tubes that correspond to the destination channel required by the user, thereby reducing the likelihood of errors when selecting tubes from racks along their destination channels. This reduces the risk that a rack designed to store tubes corresponding to one destination channel will contain tubes intended for another or other destination channels. This technique, with large sample volumes, reduces the risk of losing a tube intended for one destination channel, among tubes intended for other destination channels.

This ensures the achievement of the technical result, which consists in simplifying the stage of sorting tubes and reducing the risk of errors in the implementation of the method for automated archiving of tube data, thereby increasing the efficiency of automated archiving of tube data.

The group of inventions has a set of essential features previously unknown from the prior art, which indicates its compliance with the "novelty" patentability criterion.

From the prior art, a method for automated archiving of tube data is known, in which an automatic sorting device sorts tubes into racks, and racks into racks, which ensures the identification of tubes in the corresponding racks.

However, the prior art does not know a method for automated archiving of tube data, in which the sorting device takes into account the choice of the tube destination channel and indicates by the same device to groups of tubes in the rack in accordance with the selected destination channel. This approach reduces the likelihood of making an error when moving groups of tubes from a common rack to another rack, which then goes to one of the destination channels, thereby significantly simplifying the method of automated archiving of tube data.

In view of this, the invention meets the criterion of patentability "inventive step".

The inventions from the group of inventions are interconnected and form a single inventive concept, which consists in the fact that the system is designed to implement a method for automated archiving of tube data, which indicates that the group of inventions complies with the patentability criterion "unity of invention".

The group of inventions is illustrated by the following figures.

Fig. 1 - Stage of preparation of the first rack with test tubes intended for sorting.

Fig. 2 - Stage of registration of the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack by an automatic scanning device.

Fig. 3 - The stage of determining groups of test tubes in a rack by their destination channels by an automatic sorting device.

Fig. 4 - The stage of indicating groups of tubes in a rack by an automatic sorting device in accordance with the selected channel for assigning tubes.

Fig. 5 - The stage of installation by the user of the tubes corresponding to one destination channel in the second rack, designed to be sent via the selected laboratory destination channel.

Fig. 6 - The stage of tube data archiving, after performing the work of the selected laboratory channel of destination and placing the tubes in the third rack intended for tube archiving.

Fig. 7 - Automatic multifunctional sorting device.

Fig. 8 - Algorithm performed by an automatic scanning device (part 1).

Fig. 9 - Algorithm according to FIG. 8 (part 2).

Fig. 10 - Algorithm performed by an automatic sorting device.

To illustrate the possibility of implementation and a more complete understanding of the essence of the group of inventions, an embodiment of its implementation is presented below, which can be modified or supplemented in any way, while the present group of inventions is by no means limited to the presented option.

The system for automated tube sorting consists of a personal computer 100 with a laboratory information system (LIS) connected to it, in which tube data is stored in a table format, including a tube identifier with information about the channel (laboratory department) of the tube destination, a scanning device connected to the personal computer 110 and sorter 120.

Also in one of the embodiments, the system includes an automatic multifunctional sorter 130, allowing sequential scanning and sorting of tubes.

The scanning device 110 includes a controller 111 and connected to it: a rotary mechanism 112 with a stepper motor, a tube ID scanner 113, a rack ID scanner 114, and a light indicator 115.

The sorting device 120 includes a controller 121 and connected to it: a platform 122 with LED indicators, a rack ID scanner 123, and a switch 124 for the tube direction channel.

The automatic multifunction sorter 130 combines the elements of the above devices and contains the controller 131 and connected to it: a rotary mechanism 132 with a stepper motor, a platform 133 with LED indicators, a tube ID scanner 134, a rack ID scanner 135, a light indicator 136 and a channel switch 137 tube directions.

The system for automated archiving of tube data using scanning and sorting devices 110 and 120 is implemented as follows.

A tube rack preparation step 200, in which the user inserts tubes with destination channels A-C into the wells of rack X.

Step 300, at which the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack is recorded by the scanning device 110. To do this, at step 301, the rack is installed on the rotary mechanism 112 and fixed to it. Then, at step 302, the controller 111 sends a command to rotate the tripod to the home position by means of the stepper motor of the rotation mechanism 112 to read its ID, and at step 303, the rotation mechanism 112 rotates the tripod. Then, at step 304, the scanner 114 reads data from the rack ID, and at step 305, processing this data, and then at step 306, this data is transmitted to the personal computer 100.

After that, at step 307, the scanner 113 reads data from the first tube ID, after which, at step 308, the received data is processed by the controller 111. In this case, it determines whether the data from the tube ID was read correctly.

If the data is read correctly, then the controller 111 at step 309 sends a command to activate the green light indication to the indicator 115, while at step 310 the test tube identifier data is transmitted to the personal computer 100. At step 311, the indicator 115 activates the green indication Sveta.

In the event that the data was read incorrectly, for example, if the tube position is incorrect relative to the scanner, or another problem occurred when scanning the tube identifiers, the controller 111 performs step 314, at which it is sent a command to activate the yellow light indication on the indicator 115, which at step 315 activates this indication. Then, at step 316, the user manually enters data from the tube ID by means of the personal computer 100, and then step 307 is performed, which reads data from the next tube. This is followed by step 312, in which the controller 111 sends a command to the rotary mechanism 112 to rotate the rack with the next tube, and in step 313 the rotary mechanism performs this rotation. In this case, if the tripod has not made a full turn, which can be fixed by the controller by re-reading the data from the rack ID by the scanner 114, then the algorithm is repeated cyclically from step 307. If the tripod has made a full turn, i.e. If all the tube identifiers in the rack are read, then step 317 is performed, where the personal computer 100 saves the data on the location of the tubes in the rack wells into the LIS table, which is presented as follows:

At step 400, the groups of test tubes in the rack are automatically determined by their destination channels by the sorting device 120. To do this, at step 401, the rack is installed on the platform 122 with indicators and is fixedly fixed on it. Next, in step 402, the scanner 123 reads data from the rack ID. Thereafter, at step 403, the controller 121 requests the table with data of the identified rack from the personal computer 100, which at step 404 determines the table with the data of the identified rack and at step 405 transmits it to the controller 121. Then, by the user at step 406 through the switch 124 of of the three proposed channels A, B or C, channel A is selected, after which, at step 407, the controller 121 determines the indicator on the platform 122 in accordance with the selected channel. If channel A is selected, indicators a, b, d and g from the LIS table correspond to it:

In accordance with these sorting device 120, in step 500, groups of tubes in the rack are automatically indicated according to the selected tube assignment channel. To do this, at step 501, the controller 121 sends commands to the platform indicators 122 corresponding to the selected tube destination channel, which at step 502 activate the indicator corresponding to the selected channel and illuminate the rack wells.

Then, at step 600, the user places the tubes corresponding to one destination channel into rack Y. After that, the selected laboratory destination channel is operated with the sorted tubes from rack Y, after which they are installed in rack Z.

Thereafter, at step 700, the data of the tubes corresponding to the selected destination channel by the scanner 110 are archived. tubes in rack Z are stored in the LIS system.

The method for automated archiving of tube data using the automatic multifunction sorter 130 is implemented in a similar manner.

First, the rack with test tubes is prepared, then the rack is installed on the rotary mechanism 132 and fixed on it. Then, the controller 131 rotates the tripod to the home position by means of the stepper motor of the rotary mechanism 132 to read its ID. Then, the scanner 135 reads the data from the rack ID and transfers it to the personal computer 100. After that, the scanner 134 reads the data from the first tube ID, after which, at step 308, the received data is processed by the controller 131.

If the data is read correctly, then the green indicator 136 is activated by the controller 131 and the data from the tube identifier is sent by the controller 131 to the personal computer 100 or stored in the internal memory of the controller.

If the data was read incorrectly, then the controller 131 activates the yellow light of the indicator 136, after which the position of the test tube is corrected by the user.

After that, the rack is rotated with the next tube and the reading process is repeated. Rack location data is stored in the LIS system in a manner similar to step 316 .

A feature of the automated archiving of tube data using the automatic multifunctional sorting device 130 is that the process of automatically determining groups of tubes in a rack by their destination channels is also carried out with its help without the need to remove the rack and use additional devices. In this case, the user selects channel A from the three proposed channels A, B or C by means of a switch 136, after which the controller 131, using the methodology used at step 407, or based on the table stored in its memory, determines the indicator on the platform 133 in accordance with the selected tube destination channel.

In accordance with this data, the platform 133 automatically indicates the groups of tubes in the rack in accordance with the selected destination channel. After that, the test tubes corresponding to one destination channel are installed in rack Y. After that, the tubes in this rack are processed by the selected destination channel, during which they are moved to rack Z. Rack Z is installed back on platform 132 and archiving of tube data is carried out, corresponding to the selected destination channel. After that, rack Z is removed from the multifunctional sorter 130 and placed in storage, and the location of each tube in rack Z is stored in the LIS system.

This reduces the risk that a rack designed to store tubes corresponding to one destination channel will contain tubes intended for another or other destination channels.

This ensures the achievement of the technical result, which consists in simplifying the stage of sorting tubes and reducing the risk of errors in the implementation of the method for automated archiving of tube data, thereby increasing the efficiency of automated archiving of tube data.

Claims (17)

1. A system for automated archiving of tube data, including a computing device with a database of racks with assigned tube data and a means for obtaining data from the rack identifier and tube identifiers connected to it, and an automatic sorting device, while the computing device is configured to assign tubes racks, characterized in that the computing device is configured to automatically register the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack, taking into account the data received from the means for obtaining data from the rack identifier and from the tube identifiers, including data on the tube destination channel, the system contains a means for selecting the destination channel tubes, and the automatic sorting device is configured to automatically determine groups of tubes in a rack by their destination channels, taking into account the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack and data on the selected tube destination channel, and indication of groups of tubes in the rack in accordance with the selected destination channel, for which it contains a sorting platform for the rack and an automatic sorting device controller, while the controller of the automatic sorting device is configured to connect to a computing device to obtain data about the wells of the rack, each of which the test tube data is assigned, storing information about its destination channel, and the sorting platform contains light or mechanical indicators, each of which is located opposite the well for installing the test tube of a stand fixed on the platform, and the controller is configured to activate the indicators of the sorting platform in accordance with selected tube destination channel. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains an automatic scanning device containing a movable rack platform, a means for obtaining data from the rack identifier and data from the tube identifiers, and an automatic scanning device controller connected to them. 3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for obtaining data from the rack identifier and data from the tube identifiers is movable. 4. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the automatic scanning device includes a tube ID scanning progress indicator connected to the controller of the automatic scanning device. 5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the automatic sorter includes means for obtaining data from the rack identifier, a sorting platform for the rack, and an automatic sorter controller connected thereto. 6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube destination channel selector is located on the automatic sorter and is connected to the controller of the automatic sorter. 7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that the automatic scanning device is provided with means for obtaining data on the color of the cap of the tube, and the controller can be configured to register the color of the cap of the tube. 8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains an automatic multifunctional sorting device that provides the ability to sequentially perform the process of registering the location of tubes in the wells of the rack, automatically determining groups of tubes in the rack by their destination channels and indicating by the same device to groups of tubes in the rack corresponding to the selected destination channel. 9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the automatic multifunction device includes a tube ID scanning progress indicator and a tube destination channel selector connected to the multifunction sorter controller. 10. A method for automated archiving of test tube data includes assigning test tube data to a rack in which test tubes are installed by a computing device by obtaining data from a rack identifier and test tube identifiers, subsequent sorting of test tubes and archiving tube data, characterized in that in the process of assigning test tube data to data by a computing device rack in which the tubes are installed, it automatically registers the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack, in the process of sorting the tubes, the required channel for assigning tubes is selected, the sorting device automatically determines the groups of tubes in the rack by their destination channels and indicates by the same device to the groups of tubes in the rack according to the selected destination channel, while the device uses the sorting platform for the rack and the controller of the automatic sorter to indicate groups of tubes in the rack, while The controller of the automatic sorting device, by connecting to a computing device, obtains data on the wells of the rack, each of which is assigned test tube data that stores information about its destination channel, and the controller activates the light or mechanical indicators of the sorting platform, each of which is located opposite the well for installation of a test tube fixed on the rack platform, in accordance with the selected test tube destination channel, after which the test tubes corresponding to one destination channel are installed by the user in another rack, data is obtained from the identifier of this rack and the identifiers of the tubes, which are stored by the computing device during data archiving. 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the automatic registration of the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack is carried out by automatically filling in the table for each individual rack by entering the data transmitted to the computing device by the means of obtaining data from the rack identifier and data from the tube identifiers. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the data from the identifiers of the tubes are sequentially assigned to the data of each individual well of the rack. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that in the process of automatically registering the location of the test tubes in the wells of the rack, an automatic scanning device is used, in the controller of which the program of the automatic scanning device is loaded, during which it is possible to move the turntable to the initial position specified by the location tripod ID. 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the program for registering the receipt of data from the identifiers of the test tubes is loaded into the controller, and in the absence of registration of the receipt of data, the controller activates the corresponding light signal of the indicator of the automatic scanning device. 15. The method according to claims 11 and 13, characterized in that the controller of the automatic sorting device is configured to connect to a computing device to obtain data on the wells of the rack, each of which is assigned tube data that stores information about its destination channel. 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that a program is loaded into the controller of the automatic sorter, which makes it possible to activate indicators of the sorting platform in accordance with the selected tube destination channel. 17. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the process of registering the location of the tubes in the wells of the rack, selecting the required channel for assigning tubes, automatically determining groups of tubes in the rack by their destination channels, and indicating the groups of tubes in the rack corresponding to the selected destination channel is carried out with using an automatic multifunction sorter.

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