Patent ID: 8609024
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: C12Q,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for automated venting and sampling of a specimen container having a closure sealing the interior of the specimen container from the environment, comprising: a rack holding the specimen container; a supply of disposable venting and sampling devices, each of such disposable venting and sampling devices having a needle, a chamber in fluid communication with the needle and a port in fluid communication with the chamber; a robotic transfer mechanism moveable relative to the rack, the robotic transfer mechanism having a plurality of rotational joints; a sample removal apparatus attached to the robotic transfer mechanism having gripping features for gripping the disposable venting and sampling devices, wherein movement of the sample removal apparatus is controlled by the plurality of rotational joints of the robotic transfer mechanism; and a pneumatic system comprising a pump located on the robotic transfer mechanism and coupled to the port of the venting and sampling devices operative to draw a test sample contained within the specimen container into the chamber of the venting and sampling devices via the needle, the pneumatic system further comprising a first tube having a first end connected to the pump and a second end connected to the port of the venting and sampling devices, and a second tube having a first end connected to the pump and a second end connected to the gripping features; wherein the sample removal apparatus and robotic transfer mechanism are moveable relative to the specimen container so as to automatically insert the needle of the disposable venting and sampling devices through the closure of the specimen container to thereby vent the interior of the specimen container and obtain equilibrium between the interior of the specimen container and the atmosphere.