Receptacle transport system for an analytical system
Inventors
Silbert, Rolf • Peng, HongRan • BUSE, David Aaron • Combs, David H.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12656365-B2
Publication Date
2026-06-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
Delivering a receptacle to an instrument comprises supporting a receptacle in a carriage when the carriage is positioned at a first location of the instrument, activating a sensing system coupled to the carriage to confirm that the receptacle is supported by the carriage, moving the carriage, and the receptacle supported therein, to a second location of the instrument, applying a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first location to the second location, at the second location, extracting at least a portion of a fluid contained in the receptacle using a fluid extraction device of the instrument, moving the carriage, and the receptacle supported therein, from the second location to the first location, and releasing the clamping force from the receptacle as the carriage moves from the second location to the first location.
Core Innovation
The disclosure relates to a method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument using a carriage with the receptacle supported in the carriage at a first location. One or more sensors coupled to the carriage are activated to confirm that the receptacle is supported by the carriage, and the carriage is moved with the receptacle supported therein to a second location of the instrument, where fluid contained in the receptacle is operated on by an instrument pipettor.
During movement from the first location to the second location, a clamping force is applied to the receptacle. At the second location, the pipettor extracts at least a portion of a fluid contained in the receptacle, and after extraction the carriage and receptacle are moved back from the second location to the first location, with the clamping force released as the carriage moves.
The disclosure further ties clamping force to carriage movement using sensor confirmation and pipettor extraction while coordinating receptacle positioning relative to openings for tip access. Related portions describe sensor activation using a signal emitter and a signal detector with an optical beam, and clamping force applied and released using meshed gears coupled to support pads.
Additional aspects address mucoid/mucus contamination handling using primary and secondary mucoid shelves with a labyrinth and openings that guide tip movement to draw off and break mucoid strands and collect them in reservoirs.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a complete method flow for delivering a fluid receptacle to an instrument using a carriage, sensor confirmation, movement between two instrument locations, clamping during movement, pipettor extraction at the second location, and clamping release when returning to the first location. The inventive features are further refined in dependent claims by specifying sensor signaling, a quantified clamping-force range, a gear-and-pad clamping/release mechanism, and defined tip-through-opening extraction mechanics. Only one independent claim was provided in the partial content: clm-00001.
Carriage-supported receptacle delivery between instrument locations
Supporting a receptacle in a carriage when the carriage is positioned at a first location of the instrument; moving the carriage, and the receptacle supported therein, to a second location of the instrument; moving the carriage, and the receptacle supported therein, from the second location to the first location.
Sensor confirmation of receptacle support
Activating one or more sensors coupled to the carriage to confirm that the receptacle is supported by the carriage.
Clamping force applied during movement and released on return
Applying a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first location to the second location; releasing the clamping force from the receptacle as the carriage moves from the second location to the first location.
Pipettor extraction at the second location
At the second location, extracting at least a portion of a fluid contained in the receptacle using a pipettor of the instrument.
Signal emitter and signal detector sensor arrangement
Activating the one or more sensors directs a signal from a signal emitter toward a signal detector with the receptacle positioned between them, and determines what portion of the signal is received.
Meshed gears actuating support pads for clamping and release
Applying and releasing the clamping force each comprise rotating a pair of meshed gears coupled to the pair of support pads in opposite directions relative to each other as the carriage moves between the first and second locations.
Pipettor tip insertion through a defined opening and drawing fluid
Extracting at least a portion of the fluid comprises directing a tip associated with the pipettor through the first opening into the receptacle to contact the fluid and drawing at least a portion of the fluid into the tip.
The provided independent claim defines an end-to-end automated sequence: a receptacle is carried to a second instrument location while clamping is applied, sensors confirm carriage support, a pipettor extracts fluid at the second location, and clamping is released when returning to the first location. Dependent features narrow this by specifying sensor signaling with signal emitter and detector and an optical beam, a quantified clamping-force range, meshed gears coupled to support pads for clamping and release actuation, and directing a pipettor tip through an opening to contact and draw fluid.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Automated laboratory analytical use in which the instrument extracts at least a portion of a fluid contained in a receptacle using a pipettor.
Assay compatibility for molecular assays, including nucleic acid extraction and molecular assay use cases.
Mucoid strand management using primary and secondary mucoid shelves and a labyrinth path as part of the integrated system.
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