Patent ID: 9448146
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: B01L,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A hybrid manual-automated method for processing samples, the method comprising: manually providing a plurality of sample containers in a sample input, each sample container of the plurality having respective contents comprising a respective specimen; manually providing unused consumable supplies in a consumables input; automatically agitating each sample container of the plurality to homogenize the respective contents thereof; automatically removing a lid from each sample container of the plurality using an automated system; automatically withdrawing the respective specimen from each sample container of the plurality using the automated system; automatically transferring each respective specimen to a respective output carrier using the automated system; automatically replacing the lid on each sample container of the plurality using the automated system; automatically conveying each respective output carrier to a sample output location using the automated system; and manually removing each respective output carrier from the sample output location, wherein agitating each sample container of the plurality to homogenize the contents thereof comprises rotating a respective agitator in the sample container.