WO2015112791A1 - Procédés et appareil de détection de récipients à échantillons - Google Patents

Procédés et appareil de détection de récipients à échantillons Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015112791A1
WO2015112791A1 PCT/US2015/012578 US2015012578W WO2015112791A1 WO 2015112791 A1 WO2015112791 A1 WO 2015112791A1 US 2015012578 W US2015012578 W US 2015012578W WO 2015112791 A1 WO2015112791 A1 WO 2015112791A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
readable code
sample
target machine
receiving station
capture device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2015/012578
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Vadim Filler
Original Assignee
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. filed Critical Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
Publication of WO2015112791A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015112791A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L9/00—Supporting devices; Holding devices
    • B01L9/06—Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/14—Process control and prevention of errors
    • B01L2200/143—Quality control, feedback systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/02—Identification, exchange or storage of information
    • B01L2300/021—Identification, e.g. bar codes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/54—Labware with identification means
    • B01L3/545—Labware with identification means for laboratory containers
    • B01L3/5453—Labware with identification means for laboratory containers for test tubes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for detecting sample containers, such as in a sample rack.
  • a wide variety of diagnostic instruments are used to analyze patient specimens (biological samples). These diagnostic instruments may conduct assays or other tests using reagents or other additives to identify one or more analytes in, or characteristics of, a biological sample, such as urine, blood serum or plasma, cerebrospinal liquids, or the like.
  • the biological samples may be contained within sample containers (e.g., sample tubes). In some instances, the biological samples may have undergone a centrifuging process to separate various components thereof.
  • the sample containers are provided in a sample rack.
  • the sample rack may include several (e.g., five receptacles) that are adapted to receive and support the sample containers.
  • Some of the receptacles may include sample tubes having a barcode label applied thereon.
  • the barcode label may contain an accession number that may be correlated to demographic information that has been entered into a hospital's Laboratory Information System (LIS), along with test orders and/or other information.
  • LIS Laboratory Information System
  • a sample tube may sometimes not include a barcode label (i.e., it is unlabeled), and such information may be entered manually by an operator.
  • a barcode label may be applied, but the label may be damaged (e.g., ripped), such that only a portion is readable.
  • Other receptacles of the sample rack may not include a sample tube, i.e., they may be empty.
  • a method of detecting a sample container includes providing a receiving station adapted to receive one or more sample containers, providing a target machine-readable code at a location adjacent to the receiving station, providing a capture device, and attempting to read the target machine-readable code with the capture device along a path between the capture device and the target machine-readable code, where the one or more sample containers reside along the path, if present.
  • a sample container detection apparatus includes a receiving station adapted to receive one or more sample containers, a target machine-readable code at a location adjacent to the receiving station, and a capture device operable to attempt to read the target machine-readable code along a path between the capture device and the target machine-readable code.
  • a diagnostic instrument includes a receiving station, a sample rack containing a plurality of sample containers, the sample rack positionable such that one sample container is located at the receiving station, a target machine-readable code at a location adjacent to the receiving station, a capture device operable to attempt to read the target machine-readable code along a path between the capture device and the target machine-readable code, the receiving station located along the path, and an image processor operable to decode the target machine-readable code, or a machine-readable code on the one sample container.
  • FIG. 1A illustrates a side plan view of a sample container detection apparatus according to embodiments.
  • FIG. 1 B illustrates a top plan view of a sample container detection apparatus according to embodiments.
  • FIG. 1 C illustrates a side plan view of a sample container including a barcode label affixed thereto according to embodiments.
  • FIG. 1 D illustrates a side plan view of a sample container including no label affixed thereto according to embodiments.
  • FIG. 1 E illustrates a side plan view of a sample container including a partial barcode label affixed thereto according to embodiments.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method of detecting according to embodiments.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a method of detecting a sample container according to embodiments.
  • embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for readily determining a status of a sample container, such as at a receiving station.
  • the status of the sample container may include the presence or absence of the sample container at the receiving station, whether the sample container has a machine-readable label on it or not, and if that machine- readable label is present, is it sufficient (is it partial label, or otherwise torn or damaged).
  • the sample container detection apparatus includes a receiving station adapted to receive one or more sample containers (e.g., contained in a sample rack), a target machine-readable code (e.g., a target barcode) at a location adjacent to the receiving station, and a capture device (e.g., barcode reader) that is operable to attempt to read the target machine-readable code along a path between the capture device and the target machine-readable code.
  • a target machine-readable code e.g., a target barcode
  • FIGs. 1 A-1 B illustrates an embodiment of a diagnostic instrument 100 (e.g., a clinical analyzer or immunoassay instrument) including a sample container detection apparatus 101 .
  • Sample container detection apparatus 101 is capable of automatically and readily determining a presence or absence of a sample container (e.g., blood collection tube) that is located at a receiving station 104. This may be performed prior to testing and analysis by the diagnostic instrument 100.
  • a sample container e.g., blood collection tube
  • specimen 102S (hereinafter "specimen") to be automatically processed by the diagnostic instrument 100 may be provided to the sample container detection apparatus 101 in the sample containers 102A, 102B, 102C, which may have been previously de-capped.
  • the sample containers 102A, 102B, 102C may be made of transparent glass, plastic, or the like.
  • the sample containers 102A, 102B, 102C may be presented to the sample container detection apparatus 101 in a sample rack 106.
  • Sample rack 106 may be of any suitable configuration and may have one or more sample containers (e.g., sample containers 102A-102C) inserted in one or more receptacles in the sample rack 106.
  • a sample rack 106 having five receptacles is shown. Other sizes of sample racks may be used.
  • sample containers 102A e.g., sample tubes
  • a machine-readable code 103 may contain identification indicia and/or information, such as a barcode, alphabetic, numeric, or alphanumeric indicia, that may be machine readable (e.g., a machine-readable code).
  • the identification indicia and/or information may indicate a patient's identification as well as the test procedures to be accomplished upon the particular specimen 102S therein, for example.
  • the patient's identification alone may be provided, and the test procedure(s) to be accomplished upon the particular specimen 102S may be provided by correlating the patient's identification with a database including test information.
  • Such machine-readable code 103 may be provided on a label affixed or adhered to, or otherwise provided on the side of, the sample container 102A.
  • sample containers 102B may not be provided with a machine-readable code thereon, i.e., they may be unlabeled, such as shown in FIG. 1 D.
  • the sample container 102C may include only a portion of machine-readable code 103P thereon as shown in FIG. 1 E.
  • the partial machine-readable code 103P may be torn, smeared, or otherwise not fully readable.
  • one or more receptacles of the sample rack 106 may be devoid of a sample container, i.e., may be empty, such as receptacle 106E shown in FIGs. 1A-1 B.
  • the sample container detection apparatus 101 may be used to determine whether a sample container (e.g., 102A, 102B, or 102C) is present or not at the receiving station 104, and, if so, a determination may be made whether the sample container is a labeled sample container 102A or unlabeled 102B. Moreover, if labeled, embodiments of the invention may even determine if the sample container containing a machine- readable code 103 or 103P is sufficient (e.g., a partial - damaged or ripped label) such as in partially-labeled sample container 102C of FIG. 1 E.
  • a sample container e.g., 102A, 102B, or 102C
  • the sample container detection apparatus 101 includes the receiving station 104, which is adapted to receive one or more sample containers 102A, 102B, or 102C thereat.
  • the receiving station 104 may be a location in space within the diagnostic instrument 100, for example.
  • the sample container detection apparatus 101 includes a target machine-readable code 108 at a location (e.g., on a first side 1 10) adjacent to the receiving station 104.
  • the target machine-readable code 108 may be positioned within a few millimeters (e.g., 2 mm) from the sample rack 106, and may be positioned on a backstop 109 in some embodiments. Other spacing of the position of the target machine-readable code 108 may be used.
  • the target machine-readable code 108 may contain identification indicia and/or information, such as a barcode, alphabetic, numeric, or alphanumeric indicia, that may be machine readable (e.g., a target machine-readable barcode).
  • a capture device 1 12 is provided, such as at another location adjacent to a second side 1 1 1 of the receiving station 104.
  • the second side 1 1 1 may be opposite the first side 1 10.
  • the capture device 1 12 is operable to attempt to read the target machine-readable code 108 along a path 1 16 between the capture device 1 12 and the target machine-readable code 108.
  • the receiving station 104 is located along the path 1 16.
  • the capture device 1 12 may be a suitable barcode reader and may be positioned on the second side 1 1 1 of the sample rack 106, as shown in FIG. 1 B.
  • the capture device 1 12 may be positioned about 45 mm to about 90 mm from the sample rack 106, for example. Other spacing and orientations of the capture device 1 12 may be used.
  • the capture device 1 12 may be scanned vertically (e.g., up and down) at the receiving station 104 at a rate of about 500 scans/sec, for example. Other scan rates may be used. Scanning may take place at the receiving station 104 for a scan time of between about 40 ms to 100 ms, for example. Other scan times may be used.
  • Rack 106 may be stationary as scanning is occurring. The scanned information along the path 1 16 for each sample container 102A, 102B, 102C, or no sample container may then be processed. After scanning the first sample container 102B of the sample rack 106, the sample rack 106 may be moved by rack moving device 1 18 to scan another sample container (e.g., sample container 102C) in the sample rack 106, and so on.
  • Rack moving device 1 18 may include a rack support 120 on which the sample rack 106 is placed, a rack support drive 122, and a position controller 124.
  • Rack support 120 may include a platform adapted to receive the sample rack 106 thereon.
  • On or more locators 126 may be provided on the sample rack 106, platform, or both to precisely locate the sample rack 106 on the rack support 120.
  • Rack support drive 122 may be driven to move the sample rack 106 along the direction arrow 125 by drive signals from position controller 124.
  • Each of the sample containers e.g., sample containers 102B, 102C, 102B, 102A
  • empty receptacles 106E may be positioned sequentially at the receiving station 104 by position controller 124 and rack support drive 122.
  • An image processor 1 14 is coupled to the capture device 1 12 and is operable to decode the information provided by the capture device 1 12, such as the target machine-readable code 108 or another machine-readable code 103, 103P.
  • a method 200 may be carried out to determine if a sample container (e.g., sample container 102A, 102B, 102C) is present at the receiving station 104.
  • the method first includes positioning a sample container receptacle of a suitable carrier (sample rack 106) at the receiving station 104.
  • the method 200 includes undertaking scanning in 202. Scanning may include scanning with a barcode scanner as the capture device 1 12 for a read cycle. Read cycle may include multiple scans (e.g., approximately 35 scans in one embodiment). Other numbers of scans at the sample container receptacle for a read cycle may be undertaken.
  • 204 it is determined if any symbol has been decoded by the image processor 1 14. If a code has been decoded in 204 (Yes), then an algorithm running in the image processor 1 14 determines in 206 if it is the target machine-readable code 108. If it is determined to be the target code (Yes), then it is determined in 208 if a good decode rate (GDR) is met.
  • GDR may be any suitable number of good reads during the read cycle (e.g., 20 good reads out of 35 total reads). If the GDR is not met (No), then the result in 210 is that the sample container at the receiving station 104 is an unlabeled sample container 102B with no code. The user may then be instructed to add the patient information and/or the test information of the desired test, for example.
  • the result in 212 is that there is no sample container at the receiving station 104, i.e., there is an empty receptacle like 106E then located at the receiving station 104.
  • the method 300 includes, in 302, providing a receiving station (e.g., receiving station 104) adapted to receive one or more sample containers (e.g., sample containers 102A, 102B, 102C). Sample containers may include no labels (e.g., sample container 102B), damaged labels (sample container 102C), or complete labels (sample container 102A).
  • Method includes, in 304, providing a target machine-readable code (e.g., target machine-readable code 108) at a location adjacent to the receiving station (e.g., on a first side 1 10), and, in 306, providing a capture device (e.g., capture device 1 12).
  • the method 300 includes attempting to read the target machine-readable code with the capture device along a path (e.g., path 1 16) between the capture device and the target machine-readable code, where the one or more sample containers reside along the path, if present.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des procédés de détection de la présence ou de l'absence d'un récipient à échantillon contenant un échantillon de liquide biologique au niveau d'un logement de réception. Les procédés consistent à utiliser un logement de réception conçu pour recevoir un ou plusieurs récipients à échantillons, à utiliser un code lisible par machine cible, tel qu'un code à barres cible, à un emplacement adjacent au logement de réception, à utiliser un dispositif de capture à un emplacement adjacent au logement de réception, et à tenter de lire le code lisible par machine cible grâce au dispositif de capture.
PCT/US2015/012578 2014-01-24 2015-01-23 Procédés et appareil de détection de récipients à échantillons WO2015112791A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201461931356P 2014-01-24 2014-01-24
US61/931,356 2014-01-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2015112791A1 true WO2015112791A1 (fr) 2015-07-30

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3593904A1 (fr) * 2018-07-11 2020-01-15 Menarini Diagnósticos, S.A. Procédé et système de gestion du stockage d'objets

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6341726B1 (en) * 1999-06-23 2002-01-29 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus for inspecting elements on transport device
US6599476B1 (en) * 1997-11-27 2003-07-29 A.I. Scientific Pty Ltd. Sample distribution apparatus/system
US20120118954A1 (en) * 2010-11-12 2012-05-17 Gen-Probe Incorporated System and method for tracking items during a process
US20130065797A1 (en) * 2011-09-09 2013-03-14 Gen-Probe Incorporated Automated sample handling instrumentation, systems, processes, and methods
WO2013064561A1 (fr) * 2011-10-31 2013-05-10 Pz Cormay S.A. Procédé de validation d'échantillon dans un analyseur biochimique et analyseur biochimique mettant en œuvre ce procédé

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6599476B1 (en) * 1997-11-27 2003-07-29 A.I. Scientific Pty Ltd. Sample distribution apparatus/system
US6341726B1 (en) * 1999-06-23 2002-01-29 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus for inspecting elements on transport device
US20120118954A1 (en) * 2010-11-12 2012-05-17 Gen-Probe Incorporated System and method for tracking items during a process
US20130065797A1 (en) * 2011-09-09 2013-03-14 Gen-Probe Incorporated Automated sample handling instrumentation, systems, processes, and methods
WO2013064561A1 (fr) * 2011-10-31 2013-05-10 Pz Cormay S.A. Procédé de validation d'échantillon dans un analyseur biochimique et analyseur biochimique mettant en œuvre ce procédé

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3593904A1 (fr) * 2018-07-11 2020-01-15 Menarini Diagnósticos, S.A. Procédé et système de gestion du stockage d'objets

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