Patent ID: 8688262

Claim:
A tube handling system with a semi-automatic lab tube selection apparatus for enabling a user to pick a select lab tube in a standard lab tube holding rack with open-bottom wells that contain one or more lab tubes comprising: a tube selection unit having, a housing with a top deck having a tube rack support platen with at least one stepped cutout that supports and positions the tube holding rack on the top deck, a transport mechanism contained within the housing having a carriage assembly, wherein the carriage assembly has a carrier with a push-pin, a drive system that moves the carrier and the push-pin under the tube rack support platen, and an actuator that raises the push-pin on command, and, a control system having electronic control components that operate the drive system to locate the carrier and the push-pin at a select location corresponding to a selected position under an open-bottom well of a tube holding rack positioned on the tube rack support platen, and that actuate the actuator to raise the push-pin, wherein a selected tube in the well of the tube holding rack at the selected position of the push-pin is raised for removal.