Patent Description:
Laboratory automation systems can be used in order to provide for a partial or full automation of a laboratory. For that purpose, a laboratory automation system typically comprises a number of laboratory stations and a laboratory sample distribution system.

A typical laboratory sample distribution system is shown in document <CIT>. Such a laboratory sample distribution system provides for a high throughput and for reliable operation.

<CIT> discloses a storage and supply of vessel holders.

<CIT> discloses a storage module for a laboratory automation system according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a laboratory automation system and a corresponding sample container carrier.

<CIT> discloses an automatic system for conserving samples at a controlled temperature.

<CIT> discloses a laboratory automation system comprising a plurality of laboratory stations and a laboratory sample distribution system. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises: a number of sample container carriers, wherein the sample container carriers are adapted to carry one or more sample containers, wherein the sample containers comprise samples to be analyzed by means of the laboratory stations, a transport plane, wherein the transport plane is adapted to support the sample container carriers, drive means, wherein the drive means are adapted to move the sample container carriers on the transport plane, and a control device, wherein the control device is configured to control the drive means such that the sample container carriers move over the transport plane along predetermined transport paths.

Typical laboratory sample distribution systems are adapted to transport samples to be analyzed to the laboratory stations and away from the laboratory stations. However, it is common that reagents, disposables, labels or other items needed by the laboratory stations are provided to them externally, for example by manual operation or by separate supply means. This requires additional effort and high storage capacity.

It is thus an objection of the invention to provide for a method of operating a laboratory automation system that is able to further integrate and/or optimize supply of items to laboratory stations. It is a further object to provide for a laboratory automation system.

These objects are solved by a method according to claim <NUM> and a laboratory automation system according to claim <NUM>.

The invention relates to a method of operating a laboratory automation system. The laboratory automation system comprises a plurality of laboratory stations, a laboratory sample distribution system and a storage module.

Thus, the laboratory sample distribution system can be advantageously used in order to automatically supply reagents, disposables or other items to the laboratory stations. There is no need to install separate supply systems and there is further no need for manual intervention or control. It can be assured that the laboratory stations are supplied with needed items.

According to an embodiment, the items are transported by means of sample container carriers of the laboratory sample distribution system. According to another embodiment, the items are transported by means of transport carriers.

The method according to the present invention comprises the steps.

This allows not only for an automatic supply of the laboratory stations, but also for an automatic filling or replacement of the storage means. Filling can, for example, mean that liquids or other items are placed into a fixed container. Replacement can, for example, mean that a container storing liquids or other items is replaced as a whole.

According to an embodiment, at least some of the items are reagents, tubes, tips, pipetting heads, labels, cartridges comprising a set of reagents used in the laboratory stations and/or other consumables used by the laboratory stations.

According to an embodiment, at least some of the items are calibration substances and/or substances required for preparation calibration substances.

According to an embodiment, at least some of the items are liquids and are transported using containers of the transport carriers. This allows for an efficient distribution of liquids.

According to an embodiment, detecting that a type of items is running short comprises detecting that a number or amount of such an item is less than <NUM>% of a maximum capacity. Such a value has been proven suitable in typical applications, wherein it should be noted that also other values can be used, for example <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>% or <NUM>%.

The invention relates further to a laboratory automation system comprising a plurality of laboratory stations and a laboratory sample distribution system.

The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a number of sample container carriers, wherein the sample container carriers are adapted to carry one or more sample containers, wherein the sample containers comprise samples to be analyzed by means of the laboratory stations. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a transport plane, wherein the transport plane is adapted to support the sample container carriers. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises drive means, wherein the drive means are adapted to move the sample container carriers on the transport plane. The laboratory sample distribution system further comprises a control device. The control device is configured to control the drive means such that the sample container carriers move over the transport plane along predetermined transport paths.

The laboratory automation system further comprises a storage module that is attached (coupled, assigned) to the laboratory sample distribution system.

The laboratory automation system further comprises process control unit. The process control unit is configured to control the laboratory stations, the laboratory sample distribution system and the storage module such that a method according to the invention is performed. The process control unit can be different from the control device of the laboratory sample distribution system, but can also be implemented in the same device as the control device, for example in a control unit embodied as a microprocessor and corresponding program storage.

The sample containers are typically designed as tubes made of glass or transparent plastic and typically have an opening at an upper end. The sample containers can be used to contain, store and transport samples such as blood samples or chemical samples.

The transport plane can also be denoted as transport surface. The transport plane supports the sample container carriers, what can also be denoted as carrying the sample container carriers.

The drive means can comprise electro-magnetic actuators. The electro-magnetic actuators are typically built as electromagnets, having a solenoid surrounding a ferromagnetic core. These electro-magnetic actuators may be energized in order to provide for a magnetic field that can be used to move or drive the sample container carriers. For that purpose, at least one magnetically active device can be comprised in each sample container carrier, wherein the magnetically active device may be a permanent magnet. Alternatively or additionally, an electromagnet can be used. Accordingly, at least one magnetically active device can be comprised in each transport carrier, wherein the magnetically active device may be a permanent magnet. Alternatively or additionally, an electromagnet can be used.

The control device is typically a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a field-programmable gate array, a standard computer or a similar device. In a typical embodiment, the control device comprises processor means and storage means, wherein program code is stored in the storage means in order to control the behavior of the processor means when the storage code is executed on the processor means. The same applies for the process control unit.

The sample container carriers and the transport carriers are typically adapted to move in two dimensions on the transport plane. For that purpose, electro-magnetic actuators may be arranged in two dimensions below the transport plane. The electro-magnetic actuators may be arranged in a grid or matrix having rows and columns along which the electro-magnetic actuators are arranged.

The laboratory automation system comprises a number of transport carriers being adapted to carry one or more items, wherein the drive means are adapted to move the transport carriers on the transport plane, and wherein the control device is configured to control the drive means such that the transport carriers move over the transport plane along predetermined transport paths.

It should be noted that alternatively to the embodiment as described above with respect to the drive means having electro-magnetic actuators also self-driving transport carriers or sample container carriers can be used. For example, such transport carriers or sample container carriers can have wheels propelled by motors and/or being controllable with respect to a respective angle in order to control movement of the respective carrier. Sample container carriers can also be equipped with means for determining the respective position.

The laboratory stations can, for example, be pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analytical (laboratory) stations, and a laboratory sample distribution system as described above can be adapted to transport the sample container carriers and/or sample containers between the stations. The stations will be arranged adjacent to the laboratory sample distribution system.

Pre-analytical stations may be adapted to perform any kind of pre-processing of samples, sample containers and/or sample container carriers.

Analytical stations may be adapted to use a sample or part of the sample and a reagent to generate a measuring signal, the measuring signal indicating if and in which concentration, if any, an analyte is existing.

Post-analytical stations may be adapted to perform any kind of post-processing of samples, sample containers and/or sample container carriers.

The pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analytical stations may comprise at least one of a decapping station, a recapping station, an aliquot station, a centrifugation station, an archiving station, a pipetting station, a sorting station, a tube type identification station, a sample quality determining station, an add-on buffer station, a liquid level detection station, and a sealing/desealing station.

The storage module provides for a means for central storing of disposables, reagents, labels or other items that are needed by the laboratory stations. The storage module is further adapted to seamlessly integrate with the laboratory sample distribution system such that the laboratory sample distribution system can be used to transport items or disposables from the storage module to the laboratory stations.

The sample container carriers are available due to the normal functionality of the laboratory sample distribution system. Thus, these entities can also be used for transporting the stored items from the storage module to the laboratory stations or to other entities.

The transport carriers are typically entities that are specifically adapted to transport the items from the storage module to the laboratory stations or other entities. The transport carriers are typically not used to transport samples to, from or between the laboratory stations.

It is noted that the transport carriers can, for example, be handled by the control device like the sample container carriers. For example, the transport carriers can be included in the conventional planning or distribution of transport paths, a task that is typically performed for the sample container carriers. However, it should be noted that it is possible to specifically handle the transport carriers, for example taking into account different sizes or maximum speeds. At least one handling means is assigned to the storage means. The handling means are adapted to effect the disposal of the stored items to the sample container carriers or to the transport carriers by loading the items from the storage means on/to the sample container carriers or on/to the transport carriers.

Such handling means can be used in order to extract stored items from the storage module in order to transport them to the laboratory stations. Manual intervention is typically not necessary for that purpose.

According to an embodiment, the storage module comprises processing means, wherein the processing means are adapted to process the stored items, especially before they are transported by means of the laboratory sample distribution system.

The processing of the stored items may comprise shaking and/or mixing and/or heating and/or cooling the stored item and/or adding another item to the stored item and/or labeling or capping and/or uncapping the container of the stored item.

According to an embodiment, the processing means comprise a temperature control unit and/or a shaker unit and/or a mixer unit and/or an aliquoter unit and/or a label unit and/or a capping unit and/or a calibration substance preparation unit being adapted to prepare a calibration substance.

The temperature control unit may be adapted to control the temperature of the stored item by cooling or heating.

The aliquoter may be adapted to aliquot the stored item.

The label unit may label a container comprising the stored item.

The capping unit may decap or recap a cap from/to the container comprising the stored item.

The calibration substance preparation unit may prepare the calibration substance required for calibration of at least one of the laboratory stations.

According to a further embodiment, the processing means are adapted to plan, cause and/or control the processing of the stored items.

A processing of the stored items may be required after a specific time period. The time period may be the time after an event, e.g. the last processing of the stored items or the last calibration of the laboratory stations. The processing means may initiate the processing of the stored items.

The processing means may be adapted to provide the prepared calibration substance to the laboratory sample distribution system, wherein the laboratory sample distribution system is then adapted to transport the prepared calibration substance to the laboratory station to be calibrated.

The processing means may be adapted to initiate a calibration process of a laboratory station.

The invention will be described in detail with respect to the drawing schematically depicting an embodiment of the invention. In detail:.

<FIG> shows a laboratory automation system <NUM> according to the invention. The laboratory automation system <NUM> comprises a laboratory sample distribution system <NUM>, a first laboratory station <NUM>, a second laboratory station <NUM> and a storage module <NUM>. The laboratory stations <NUM>, <NUM> and the storage module <NUM> are operatively connected to the laboratory sample distribution system <NUM>. It should be noted that the two shown laboratory stations <NUM>, <NUM> are only shown exemplarily and that typical laboratory automation systems <NUM> can have more than two laboratory stations.

The laboratory sample distribution system <NUM> comprises a transport plane <NUM>. Below the transport plane <NUM>, a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators <NUM> are provided. Each electro-magnetic actuator <NUM> comprises a ferromagnetic core <NUM>.

Over the transport plane <NUM> a plurality of position sensors <NUM> are distributed. These position sensors <NUM> are embodied as Hall sensors.

On the transport plane <NUM>, sample container carriers <NUM> can move. For exemplary purposes, there are shown two sample container carriers <NUM>, each carrying a respective sample container <NUM>. It should be noted that these two sample container carriers <NUM> are shown only exemplarily and that typical laboratory automation systems <NUM> comprise more than two sample container carriers.

Each sample container carrier <NUM> comprises a permanent magnet that is not visible in <FIG>. Thus, the sample container carriers <NUM> can be driven by magnetic fields generated by the electro-magnetic actuators <NUM>.

The sample distribution system <NUM> further comprises a control device in the form of a control unit <NUM> that is operatively connected to the electro-magnetic actuators <NUM> and to the position sensors <NUM>. Thus, the control unit <NUM> can drive the electro-magnetic actuators <NUM> such that they generate respective magnetic fields in order to propel the sample container carriers <NUM> and to propel transport carriers <NUM> along respective transport paths. Further, the control unit <NUM> monitors the position of the sample container carriers <NUM> and the position of the transport carriers <NUM> by means of the position sensors <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> also acts as a process control unit to control the entire laboratory automation system <NUM>.

The storage module <NUM> comprises a first storage means in the form of a first container <NUM>, a second storage means in the form of a second container <NUM> and processing means <NUM>. The processing means <NUM> may comprise a calibration substance preparation unit and/or a temperature control unit. The first container <NUM> is adapted to store a pulverized item <NUM>, wherein the second container <NUM> is adapted to store a liquid item <NUM>. The temperature control unit is adapted to heat or cool the item <NUM> and/or the item <NUM>. The items <NUM>, <NUM> are used by the laboratory stations <NUM>, <NUM> during analyzing of samples and/or during calibration.

The calibration substance preparation unit may be adapted to prepare a calibration substance, e.g. by mixing the items <NUM> and <NUM>. The calibration substance may be used by the laboratory stations <NUM> and <NUM> for calibration purposes without any further modification.

The first container <NUM> comprises a first handling means in the form of a slide <NUM>. By means of the slide <NUM>, the first item <NUM> can be disposed on a carrier standing on the transport plane <NUM> in a specific position besides the storage module <NUM>.

For transporting the first item <NUM>, the transport carrier <NUM> is provided on the transport plane <NUM>. The transport carrier <NUM> also comprises a permanent magnet and can be handled by the control unit <NUM> as if it would be a sample container carrier <NUM>. However, the transport carrier <NUM> is not adapted to transport a sample container <NUM>, but has a recess <NUM> in which the first item <NUM> can be stored. Thus, the first item <NUM> can be transported to the laboratory stations <NUM>, <NUM> by means of the transport carrier <NUM>.

The second container <NUM> comprises a second handling means in the form of a standpipe <NUM>. The standpipe <NUM> has a height such that a sample container <NUM> contained in a sample container carrier <NUM> can be placed below it. This allows a filling of the sample container <NUM> with the liquid second item <NUM>. Thus, the second item <NUM> can be transported to the laboratory stations <NUM>, <NUM> using sample container carriers <NUM> carrying sample containers <NUM>.

The storage means <NUM> in general provides for a central storage of items <NUM>, <NUM> such that no further supply means is required for the laboratory stations <NUM>, <NUM>. It allows further to automate replacement of items in the laboratory stations <NUM>, <NUM>, because the laboratory stations <NUM>, <NUM> can easily report to the control unit <NUM> that a specific item is running short or that calibration is required, and refilling or the preparation of said item <NUM>, <NUM> can easily be accomplished by processing and/or disposal of the specific item <NUM>, <NUM> at the storage module <NUM> and by transporting the specific item <NUM>, <NUM> to the respective analyzing station <NUM>, <NUM>. For this purpose, the sample distribution system <NUM> can be used without further modification.

It should be noted that the two items <NUM>, <NUM> are only shown exemplarily in the embodiment, and that in a typical laboratory automation system <NUM>, more than two items are to be provided to the laboratory stations <NUM>, <NUM>. This can be accomplished in a similar way.

<FIG> schematically shows a further embodiment of the laboratory automation system <NUM> according to the invention.

The laboratory automation system <NUM> comprises the laboratory sample distribution system <NUM>, the first laboratory station <NUM>, the second laboratory station <NUM> and the storage module <NUM>.

According to this embodiment, the storage module <NUM> comprises a number (e.g. <NUM>) of processing means <NUM>, e.g. incorporating a temperature control unit and/or a shaker unit and/or a mixer unit and/or an aliquoter unit and/or a label unit and/or a capping unit and/or a calibration substance preparation unit being adapted to prepare a calibration substance. The storage module <NUM> further comprises an internal transfer unit <NUM> e.g. for transporting substances required for the preparation of the calibration substance to a specific processing means <NUM> forming the calibration substance preparation unit. The internal transfer unit <NUM> may be a revolving transfer machine, a carousel machine or may use a transport mechanism corresponding to the laboratory sample distribution system <NUM>.

The storage module <NUM> further comprises a transfer unit <NUM> for filling of a sample container with the processed calibration substance. The sample container is contained in the sample container carrier <NUM>. The transfer unit <NUM> may use a transport mechanism corresponding to the laboratory sample distribution system <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Method of operating a laboratory automation system (<NUM>),
- wherein the laboratory automation system (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of laboratory stations (<NUM>, <NUM>), a laboratory sample distribution system (<NUM>) and a storage module (<NUM>), wherein the method comprises the steps
- detecting that at least one type of items (<NUM>, <NUM>) is missing or is running short at one of the laboratory stations (<NUM>, <NUM>),
- in response to the detecting, disposing a number of such items (<NUM>, <NUM>) from one of a number of storage means (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the storage module (<NUM>),
- transporting the items (<NUM>, <NUM>) to the laboratory stations (<NUM>, <NUM>) using the laboratory sample distribution system (<NUM>),
the method being characterised in:
- detecting that at least one storage means (<NUM>, <NUM>) is empty or is running short of items (<NUM>, <NUM>) stored by means of the storage means (<NUM>, <NUM>), and
- in response to the detecting, generating a signal indicating that the storage means (<NUM>, <NUM>) should be filled and/or replaced.