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

Claim 12:
13. A method for analyzing patient samples comprising steps of:
receiving, at a sample handler module having a robot arm, a plurality of trays holding a plurality of patient sample tubes via one or more drawers located at a front of the sample handler module that is accessible to a human operator;
providing an automation track that propels a plurality of sample carriers under processor control along a surface of the automation track;
positioning a first sample carrier at a location on the automation track to receive a first patient sample tube from the robot arm;
decapping the first patient sample tube under processor control;
positioning, via the first carrier, the first patient sample tube at a second location accessible to a pipette controlled by a first analyzer module;
performing, by the first analyzer module, a clinical analysis of at least one of clinical chemistry characteristics and immunoassay characteristics of a patient sample in the first patient sample tube;
setting a priority of the decapped first patient sample tube; and
maintaining, by the processor, a timer of an amount of time a patient sample tube is uncapped prior to arrival at the first analyzer module to ensure the timer does not exceed a predetermined time limit.