Abstract:
A lab rack rotator includes a motor coupled to a shaft arranged to rotate in at least one direction in response to the motor. One or more mounts are located along the surface of the shaft and are configured to receive a lab sample rack which holds a plurality of lab samples contained in lab sample containers such as test tubes. Rotation of the shaft permits inversion of the plurality of lab samples, for instance whole blood samples. The lab rack rotator increases the number of lab samples that may be agitated in an automated process while decreasing the amount of time required for necessary pre-testing agitation of samples.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to automated laboratory systems and in particular to an apparatus and method for agitating lab samples in such a system. More specifically, the present invention provides a lab rack rotator and method of use thereof that allows for inversion of a large number of lab samples at a faster rate to increase throughput to meet the demands of an automated laboratory system for diagnostic testing. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Diagnostic laboratories are becoming increasingly automated and as a result have a higher throughput for clinical analysis of laboratory samples. In order to take advantage of the increased testing speed and higher throughput, more efficient pre-diagnostic procedures are necessary to ensure large numbers of samples are prepared and available for testing. 
         [0003]    Laboratory samples are typically stored and handled in standard sample containers, such as test tubes that may be stored in a standard test tube rack. These samples often need to be mixed and agitated prior to testing. Mixing may be required due to the settling of the samples that often occurs during storage, for incorporation of reagents prior to a reaction, for homogenization, for instigating a reaction, of for instigation precipitation or other physical and chemical changes required for laboratory sample analysis. The agitation must be performed while ensuring that the samples remained sealed. Prior agitating methods and devices have inefficiencies that may hinder the overall throughput of the laboratory. 
         [0004]    The most commonly used method of agitation is vortexing, wherein the sample container is rapidly swirled. Vortexing is not optimal for most laboratory sample containers that have an extended height dimension. In order for vortexing to completely mix the sample, the vortex or opening void in the swirling liquid must extend from the top portion to the bottom portion of the extended height dimension of the sample container, which is a time consuming, inefficient process. Complete inversion of the sample provides a more efficient method of fulling agitating a sample. 
         [0005]    Current inversion methods for laboratory samples, however, are also inefficient for high throughput laboratories. For example, individual samples contained in test tubes may be inverted by hand to provide the necessary agitation of the samples. Although inversion by hand quickly agitates the sample, the process is necessarily limited to one or two samples at a time and requires an employee dedicated to handling and inverting the individual samples which is time consuming and less efficient than automated processes. 
         [0006]    Some systems provide automated agitation for a number of samples in a single process. For example, conventional rocker systems have provided the ability to agitate a larger number of samples at a single time through an automated process. Conventional rockers currently available, however, merely oscillate the samples and do not provide inversion, which results in a longer period of time required to completely agitate the samples. The process time for conventional rockers is typically between four and ten minutes to provide the necessary agitation of the samples prior to testing. Conventional rockers further require the samples to be moved from the racks on which they are stored to the rocker device which requires additional time and labor. 
         [0007]    Commercial test tube rotators are available that provide full inversion of the samples. These rotators, however, are limited in the number of test tubes they are able to hold and, similar to the rockers described above, require that the individual tubes be moved from the racks on which they are held to the rotator prior to inversion. Thus, available sample rotators require additional time and effort that limits the overall throughput of the testing laboratory. 
         [0008]    There is thus a need in the art to overcome these and other deficiencies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    One embodiment of this invention relates to a lab sample rack rotator comprising a motor coupled to a shaft arranged to rotate in at least one direction in response to the motor. One or more mounts are located along the shaft and are configured to receive a lab sample rack which holds a plurality of lab samples. Rotation of the shaft permits inversion of the plurality of lab samples. 
         [0010]    Another embodiment of this invention relates to a method for agitating a plurality of lab samples comprises providing a motor coupled to a shaft arranged to rotate in at least one direction in response to the motor. One or more mounts are located along the shaft and are configured to receive a lab sample rack which holds the plurality of lab samples. The one or more lab sample racks are loaded into the one or more mounts. The shaft is rotated causing the lab samples loaded in the lab sample racks to be inverted to achieve agitation of the plurality of lab samples. 
         [0011]    Various exemplary embodiments of this technology may offer advantages. For example, the lab rack rotator achieves agitation of a higher number of samples at a faster rate to meet the higher throughput demands of diagnostic laboratories. Further, the lab rack rotator allows for agitation while maintaining the lab samples in the racks on which they are stored, which decreases the time and labor required for the pre-testing agitation step to further increase the throughput of the lab. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIGS. 1A-1C  are an isometric view, end view, and a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lab rack rotator of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are an isometric view, end view, and a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a lab rack rotator of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart for a method for agitating a plurality of lab samples. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Exemplary lab rack rotators  100 ( 1 ),  100 ( 2 ) are illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-2C . 
         [0016]    Like elements in lab rack rotators  100 ( 1 ),  100 ( 2 ) are described below using like reference numerals. The like reference numerals indicate the same structure and operation except as described below. Each of the exemplary lab rack rotators  100 ( 1 ),  100 ( 2 ) includes a shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ), a support structure  104 , one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) located along the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ), a motor  108 , and one or more input devices  110 . The lab rack rotators  100 ( 1 ),  100 ( 2 ) could include other types and numbers of devices, components, and other elements in other configurations, as well. This exemplary technology provides a number of advantages including providing agitation of a plurality of lab samples through inversion at an increased rate of speed, while maintaining the samples in the standard lab racks they are stored in to facilitate the high throughput nature of clinical laboratories. 
         [0017]    The shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) of each of the exemplary lab rack rotators  100 ( 1 ),  100 ( 2 ) is supported by a support structure  104  configured to allow the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) to rotate in at least one direction about a central axis of the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ), although the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) may rotate in either direction. In one example, the support structure  104  includes a base  112  and arms  114 , although the support structure  104  may have other configurations suitable to support the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) and to allow the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) to rotate in at least one direction. The length of the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) can be configured depending on the size of test tube carrier to be supported. By way of example only, the length of the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) may be designed to accommodate large carriers, such as a 24 tube carrier, although other embodiments specifically designed for smaller carriers, such as microwell plates, may be contemplated. In one embodiment, the length of the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) is adjustable to accommodate different sizes of carriers. 
         [0018]    The one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) are located along the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ). Mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) are configured to receive and securely hold a lab sample rack. The lab sample rack may be any standard lab sample rack configured to hold a number of lab sample containers, such as test tubes, glass vials, thermo tubes, tubes in microtiter platers, 1 mL tubes, 50 microliter tubes, NMR tubes, or any other laboratory sample container. By way of example only, the present invention may be utilized with various Society of Biomolecular Science format plates and tube racks, or plates and tube racks that meet Standards ANSI/SLAS 1-2004 through ANSI/SLAS 4-2004, although other plates that meet other standards may be used. 
         [0019]    In one example, the mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) may hold a lab sample rack capable of holding 24 individual test tubes, although mounts  106  may hold lab sample racks that hold more or less test tubes or other lab sample holders. Additionally, mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) may be configured to secure a plurality of racks or plates in each single mount. The mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) may vary in size and shape to be able to receive lab sample racks of different configurations. In one example, at least one of the mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) has a different size or dimension than the other mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) located along the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ), although the mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) may all have uniform size or dimensions. 
         [0020]    By way of example only, eight or more mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) may be located along the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ), although other numbers of mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) of different sizes may be utilized. 
         [0021]    The dimensions of the mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) are configured to provide a secure fit for the one or more lab sample racks based on a longest dimension of the containers holding the lab samples. In one example, the mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) are configured such that the lab samples in the lab sample rack are maintained in a direction perpendicular to the length of the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ), although the lab samples may be maintained in other configurations. The mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) include at least one dimension configured to limit movement of the samples in the lab sample rack. By way of example only, for a lab rack holding a number of lab samples in test tubes, the mount  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) is configured to provide a secure fit based on the length of the test tube such that the mount  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) will provide a secure fit by limiting the freedom of movement of the lab samples in the direction of the lid of the test tube to ensure a secure fit during inversion and ensure that the sample container remains sealed. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1C , shaft  102 ( 1 ) includes a body portion  116  with the one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) configured as voids in the body portion  116  of the shaft  102 ( 1 ). The one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) extend parallel to the central axis of the shaft through the body portion  116  of the shaft  102 ( 1 ) along nearly the entire length of the shaft  102 ( 1 ). The one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) are configured to receive one or more test tube carriers. The one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) are located symmetrically about the central axis of the shaft  102 ( 1 ), although other configurations may be contemplated. By way of example only, the one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) are located at 90 degree intervals about the shaft  102 ( 1 ), although other configurations, such as one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) that are located 180 degrees, 60 degrees, or 45 degrees apart about the central axis of the shaft  102 ( 1 ) may be utilized. 
         [0023]    The one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) are configured as hollow rectangular sections in the body portion  116  of the shaft  102 ( 1 ), although the one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) may have other configurations. The one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) are configured to securely fit a laboratory sample rack, although the one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) may be configured to fit a plurality of lab sample racks. In one embodiment, the sidewalls of mount  106 ( 1 ) may be lined with a compressible material or other material to increase friction with a loaded lab rack in order to provide a more secure fit for the loaded lab rack within the mount  106 ( 1 ). 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) include at least one adjustable sidewall  118 , although other numbers of adjustable sidewalls may be contemplated. The adjustable sidewall  118  is utilized to secure a lab sample rack in place within the mount  106 ( 1 ) after the lab sample rack is loaded. The adjustable sidewall  118  provides a force in the direction of the sidewall opposite the adjustable sidewall  118  to secure the lab rack in place within the mount  106 ( 1 ). In one embodiment, the adjustable sidewall  118  is constructed of a pliable material, such as rubber, in order to provide the force to secure the lab rack, although other pliable materials may be utilized. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, adjustable sidewall includes a securing mechanism  120 . The securing mechanism  120  may be a spring, such as a compression spring, a tension spring, or a torsion spring, to provide a spring loaded force, although other non-spring loaded forces may be applied through, by way of example only, a compression piston. Alternatively, adjustable sidewall  118  may be manually adjustable and securing mechanism  120  may provide a lockable source of force through a latch, lever, or other locking mechanism to maintain the position of the adjustable sidewall  118  after manual adjustment. Although securing mechanism  120  is described as a single source of force, it is understood that a plurality of securing mechanisms may be utilized to apply a symmetrical force to the lab rack along the adjustable sidewall  118 . 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, mounts  106 ( 1 ) include multiple adjustable dimensions. Two adjacent sidewalls of the mount  106 ( 1 ) may be adjustable in relation to the opposing sidewalls. By way of example only, the joint between the two adjacent sidewalls may include comb-like interspersed teeth that allow for adjustment, although other adjustment mechanisms may be contemplated. 
         [0027]    The one or more mounts  106 ( 1 ) include an open end  122  configured to receive the lab sample rack such that an operator may slide the lab sample rack into the mount  106 ( 1 ). By way of example only, the open end  122  may include a tapered portion that facilitates insertion of the lab rack into the mount  106 ( 1 ). The tapered portion may be constructed of polished metal to facilitate insertion, although other materials that provide a low source of friction between the tapered portion and the lab rack during insertion into the mount may be utilized. The mount  106 ( 1 ) may further include a fastener located at the open end  122  of the mount  106 ( 1 ), such as a closable door. In one embodiment, the closable door may secure the lab rack within the mount  106 ( 1 ). In another embodiment, the mount  106 ( 1 ) includes a stop device  124  at the end of the mount  106 ( 1 ) opposite the open end  122  to securely load the lab sample rack into the mount  106 ( 1 ), although the mount  106 ( 1 ) may include other devices at other locations to provide a secure fit for the lab sample rack in the mount. The stop device  124  may be adjustable to secure the lab rack within the mount  106 ( 1 ). 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2C , mounts  106 ( 2 ) are disposed on the shaft parallel to the central axis of the shaft, although the mounts  106 ( 2 ) may be located in other positions on the shaft. The shaft  102 ( 2 ) includes one or more flat sides configured to receive the mounts  106 ( 2 ), although the shaft may have other configurations to suit different shapes and sizes of mounts  106 ( 2 ). By way of example only, shaft  102 ( 2 ) has an octagonal cross-section to receive eight mounts  106 ( 2 ), although the shaft may have other configurations such as a square or circular cross-section to receive different numbers and shapes of mounts  106 ( 2 ). In one example, shaft  102 ( 2 ) includes attachment mechanisms  126  to removably attach mounts  106 ( 2 ) to the shaft  102 ( 2 ), although in other embodiments the mounts  106 ( 2 ) is rigidly attached to the shaft  102 ( 2 ). By way of example only, the attachment mechanisms  126  may be brackets configured to receive the mounts  106 ( 2 ), although other devices for attaching the mounts  106 ( 2 ) to the shaft  102 ( 2 ), such as rails located on the shaft  102 ( 2 ) that provide a slide fit for the mounts  106 ( 2 ) to the shaft  102 ( 2 ) may be contemplated. The shaft  102 ( 2 ) may include different numbers and types of attachment mechanisms  126  in order to removably attach different numbers and shapes of mounts  106 ( 2 ) to the shaft  102 ( 2 ). 
         [0029]    In one example, the mounts  106 ( 2 ) are in the shape of a hollow casing, although the mounts  106 ( 2 ) may comprise other shapes suitable to receive a standard lab sample rack. The hollow casing includes an open end  128  configured to receive the lab sample rack such that an operator may slide the lab sample rack into the mount  106 ( 2 ). The mount  106 ( 2 ) may further include a fastener located at the open end  128  of the hollow casing and a stop device  130  at the end of the hollow casing opposite the open end  128  to securely load the lab sample rack into the hollow casing, although the mount  106 ( 2 ) may include other devices at other locations to provide a secure fit for the lab sample rack in the mount. In the example shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the shaft  102 ( 2 ) includes eight mounts  106 ( 2 ) and the open ends  128  of seven of the mounts  106 ( 2 ) are configured to receive the lab sample rack without reorientation of the shaft  102 ( 2 ). The eighth mount can be loaded by turning the rotator sufficiently to expose the open end of the eighth mount. 
         [0030]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1A-2C , the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) is coupled to a motor  108 . The motor  108  is configured to drive the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) to cause the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) to rotate in at least one direction about the central axis of the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ), although the motor  108  may have the capability to drive the shaft  102  in both directions. The motor may optionally be enclosed in a motor enclosure. In one example, the motor is capable of rotating the shaft at a rate of at least 10 rotations per minute, although the motor may have the ability to rotate the shaft at various rates of speed. 
         [0031]    The motor  108  is coupled to and may be operated by the input device  110 . The input device  110  may allow a user to initiate rotation of the shaft  102  in either direction, control the speed of rotation, or initiate or control any other function of the motor. In one example, the input device  110  may allow a user to rotate the shaft  102  for a preset number of rotations, such as four complete rotations, although the input device  110  may provide other functions such as rotating the shaft  102  for a preset period of time. The input device  110  may further allow a user to rotate the shaft  102  less than a full rotation, for example, to reorient the shaft  102  in order to load a lab sample rack into a mount  106  that is being blocked by the support structure  104 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a method for agitating a plurality of lab samples utilizing the lab sample rack rotator  100  will be described using flow chart  300  with reference back to  FIGS. 1A-2B . 
         [0033]    In step  302 , a motor coupled to a shaft, such as motor  108  and shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ), are provided. In one example, in step  302 , providing the motor  108  coupled to the shaft includes providing a shaft that is arranged to rotate in at least one direction in response to the motor. Step  302  further includes providing a shaft that includes a number of mounts, such as mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ), that are located along the shaft. The mounts may be integrated into the shaft or may be separately disposed on the surface of the shaft. The mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) are configured to receive a lab sample rack which holds a number of lab samples. 
         [0034]    In step  304 , one or more lab sample racks are loaded into the mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ). In one example, the lab sample racks are loaded such that the lab samples are maintained in a direction perpendicular to the length of the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ). By way of example only, the lab sample racks may be slid by the user into the mount  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ). Each mount is capable of receiving a complete rack of samples, although mounts may be configured to receive a plurality of racks. 
         [0035]    In one example, loading the lab sample racks into mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) includes loading at least one of the one or more lab sample racks into mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) that are accessible for loading a lab sample rack. The shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) is reoriented by rotating the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) to a position where additional mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) are accessible to load a lab sample rack. By way of example, a mount  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ) may be unavailable due to being blocked by the arm  114  of the support structure  104 . The rotation of the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) to provide reorientation for additional loading in this example is less than 360 degrees. After reorientation, additional lab sample racks are loaded into the remaining previously inaccessible mounts  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ). In one example, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , eight mounts  106 ( 2 ) may be disposed on the shaft  102 ( 2 ) with seven of the eight mounts  106 ( 2 ) configured to receive the lab sample rack without reorientation of the shaft  102 ( 2 ). In this example, the shaft  102 ( 2 ) may be reoriented by  45  degrees to provide access to the eighth mount for loading. 
         [0036]    Referring again to  FIG. 3 , in step  306 , the loaded lab sample racks are rotated by rotating the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) by initiating the motor  108  using input device  110 . Rotating the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) causes the lab samples to be inverted to achieve agitation of the samples. In one example, the rotating of the lab sample racks includes rotating the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) at a rate of at least 10 rotations per minute, although the shaft may be rotated at other rates. In one example, rotating the loaded lab sample racks includes rotating the shaft  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 ) for at least four full rotations, although the number of rotations may be varied. In one example, complete agitation of the samples is achieved in at most 30 seconds. 
         [0037]    In one example, the method described by flowchart  300  is utilized to agitate whole blood samples, although the method may be used to agitate other types of samples including other types of blood samples, such as serum or plasma. 
         [0038]    In one example, the method described by flowchart  300  is utilized to agitate at least 192 samples simultaneously, although more or less samples may be agitated. 
         [0039]    Having thus described the basic concept of the invention, it will be rather apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed description is intended to be presented by way of example only, and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.