Patent ID: 9260763
Filing Date: 2016-02-16
CPC Classification: B01L,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. An automated process for converting biological samples into an output format suitable for further analysis, the process comprising: receiving a plurality of tube strips in one or more tube strip racks, each tube strip having a plurality of sample tubes with a respective sample in each tube; transferring a group of tube strips from the one or more tube strip racks to a tube strip holder, the tube strip holder having plurality of wells configured to each hold at least one tube strip; dispensing a sample conversion buffer into each sample tube in the group of tube strips; shaking the tube strip holder a first time to simultaneously mix the contents of each sample tube in the tube strip holder; centrifuging the tube strip holder to simultaneously centrifuge the contents of each sample tube in the tube strip holder; removing a liquid supernatant from each sample tube in the tube strip holder; moving the tube strip holder to an inspection station; simultaneously inspecting the contents of each tube in the tube strip holder to determine whether a pellet has formed in each tube in the tube strip holder; dispensing a specimen transport medium and a denaturation reagent into each tube in the tube strip holder; shaking the tube strip holder a second time to simultaneously mix the contents of each sample tube in the tube strip holder; heating the tube strip holder for a first length of time to simultaneously incubate the contents of each sample tube in the tube strip holder; shaking the tube strip holder a third time to simultaneously mix the contents of each sample tube in the tube strip holder; heating the tube strip holder for a second length of time to simultaneously incubate the contents of each sample tube in the tube strip holder; shaking the tube strip holder a fourth time to simultaneously mix the contents of each sample tube in the tube strip holder; and transferring at least a portion of each sample to a respective well on an output plate.