Patent ID: 11927598
Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE DIAGNOSTICS INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. An analyzer system for use in an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) environment comprising:
one or more analyzer modules configured to aspirate a portion of a patient sample from each of a plurality of patient samples and perform a clinical analysis of that patient sample;
a vessel moving system comprising:
an automation track comprising a plurality of track sections forming a plurality of branches, and
a plurality of sample carriers configured to accept at least one of the plurality of patient samples and a plurality of tubes of control and calibrator fluids and to traverse the automation track under processor control;

a sample handler module comprising:
one or more drawers configured to accept a plurality of trays holding the plurality of patient samples, wherein the patient samples are held in tubes, at least a portion of which are capped,
a plurality of cameras that record overhead images of sample tubes while in the drawers, and
a robot arm configured to move patient sample tubes between the drawers and carriers on an automation system; and

a processor configured to monitor the status of the patient sample tubes and vessel moving system, to de-cap patient samples on demand, prioritize delivery of uncapped samples within the vessel moving system, and to maintain a timer of an amount of time a patient sample is uncapped prior to routing to an analyzer module to ensure the timer does not exceed a predetermined time limit.