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CN-114594275-B - Diagnostic laboratory distribution system

CN114594275BCN 114594275 BCN114594275 BCN 114594275BCN-114594275-B

Abstract

Diagnostic laboratory distribution system. The present invention describes a diagnostic laboratory dispensing system, wherein the dispensing system comprises a plurality of carriers, wherein the carriers are adapted to carry one or more items. The dispensing system comprises a transport plane, wherein the transport plane is adapted to support the carrier, and a driving tool, wherein the driving tool is adapted to move the carrier on the transport plane, and a control device for controlling the driving tool. The distribution system comprises a cover for the transport plane, and a humidity sensor connected to the control means, and an air flow generating means connected to the control means. The airflow generating device is distributed over the distribution system to generate an airflow between the cover and the transport plane. The control means is configured to activate the airflow generating means in case the humidity sensor measures a humidity above a predetermined threshold.

Inventors

  • M. E. Alvarez
  • J. S. Pena

Assignees

  • 豪夫迈·罗氏有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20211202
Priority Date
20201203

Claims (12)

  1. 1. A diagnostic laboratory distribution system (100), wherein the distribution system (100) comprises: A plurality of carriers (240), wherein the carriers (240) are adapted to carry one or more articles (230), A transport plane (200), wherein the transport plane (200) is adapted to support the carrier (240), -A driving means (210), wherein the driving means (210) is adapted to move the carrier (240) on the transport plane (200), and-control means (215) for controlling the driving means (210), Wherein the dispensing system (100) comprises a cover (220) for the transport plane (200), Wherein the distribution system (100) comprises a humidity sensor (10) and an air flow generating device (40), the humidity sensor (10) being connected to the control device (215) for measuring the humidity above the transport plane (200), the air flow generating device (40) being connected to the control device (215), Wherein the air flow generating device (40) is distributed over the distribution system (100) to generate an air flow between the cover cap (220) and the transport plane (200), wherein the air flow generating device (40) generates a laminar air flow, Wherein the control means (215) is configured to activate the airflow generating means (40) in case the humidity sensor (10) measures a humidity above a predefined threshold.
  2. 2. The dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the control device (215) is configured to stop the airflow generating device (40) if the humidity sensor (10) measures a humidity value below the predefined threshold.
  3. 3. The distribution system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transport plane (200) of the distribution system is arranged in a line and an intersection, wherein the cover (220) of the distribution system comprises a negative pressure discharge orifice (30), wherein the negative pressure discharge orifice (30) is placed at the intersection.
  4. 4. The dispensing system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover (220) comprises a heating element (225) to heat the cover (220), wherein the control device (215) is connected to the heating element (225), wherein the control device (215) is configured to start and stop the heating element (225) according to a predefined second threshold value of the signal of the humidity sensor (10).
  5. 5. The dispensing system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispensing system (100) comprises a microbial sensor (20) arranged between the transport plane (200) and the cover (220) and connected to the control means (215), and wherein the control means (215) is configured to activate the air flow generating means (40) if the control means receives a signal from the microbial sensor (40) above a predefined biological threshold.
  6. 6. The dispensing system (100) according to claim 5, wherein the control means (215) is configured to stop the airflow generating means (40) if the signal of the microbial sensor (20) is below the predefined biological threshold, wherein the start signal always has a higher priority than any stop signal of the airflow generating means (40).
  7. 7. The dispensing system (100) of claim 5, wherein the dispensing system comprises a uv light generating device (50).
  8. 8. The dispensing system (100) according to claim 7, wherein the control device (215) is connected to the uv light generating device (50) and activates the uv light generating device (50) when the signal of the microbial sensor (20) is above a second biological threshold, and in particular deactivates the uv light generating device when the signal of the microbial sensor is below the second biological threshold.
  9. 9. A method for a diagnostic laboratory distribution system (100), wherein the distribution system (100) comprises a plurality of carriers (240), wherein the carriers (240) are adapted to carry one or more items (230), A transport plane (200), wherein the transport plane (200) is adapted to support the carrier (240), -A driving means (210), wherein the driving means (210) is adapted to move the carrier (240) on the transport plane (200), and-control means (215) for controlling the driving means (210), Wherein the dispensing system (100) comprises a cover (220) for the transport plane, Wherein the distribution system (100) comprises a humidity sensor (10) and an air flow generating device (40), the humidity sensor (10) being connected to the control device (215), the air flow generating device (40) being connected to the control device (215), Wherein the air flow generating means (40) is distributed over the distribution system (100) to generate an air flow between the cover (220) and the transport plane (200), wherein the air flow generating means (40) generates a laminar air flow, wherein the control means (215) activate the air flow generating means (40) in case the humidity sensor (10) measures a humidity above a predefined threshold.
  10. 10. The method for diagnosing a laboratory distribution system (100) according to claim 9, wherein the distribution system (100) comprises a microbiological sensor (20), wherein the control means (215) activates the gas flow generating means (40) if the microbiological sensor (20) connected to the control means (215) sends a signal above a predefined microbiological threshold, and the control means (215) deactivates the gas flow generating means (40) if the signal is below the predefined microbiological threshold, wherein the activation signal always has a higher priority than any deactivation signal of the gas flow generating means (40).
  11. 11. The method for diagnosing a laboratory distribution system (100) according to claim 10, wherein the distribution system comprises uv light generating means (50) connected to the control means (215), wherein the control means (215) activates the uv light generating means (50) if the microorganism sensor connected to the control means (215) sends a signal above a second predefined microorganism threshold, and the control means (215) stops the uv light generating means (50) if the signal is below the second predefined microorganism threshold.
  12. 12. The method for a diagnostic laboratory distribution system (100) according to claim 11, wherein the control device (215) activates the driving means (210) such that all carriers (240) are moved out of the area of the transport plane (200) where the signal of the microorganism sensor (20) is higher than the second predefined microorganism threshold value before the uv light generating device (50) is turned on.

Description

Diagnostic laboratory distribution system Technical Field Embodiments of the present invention relate to diagnostic laboratory distribution systems. Background Diagnostic laboratory dispensing systems are described, for example, in EP 3 095 739 A1 or WO 2012/158541. These publications describe laboratory sample distribution systems with passive or self-propelled carriers on the transport plane. Hereinafter, the dispensing system is any type of probe transport system within and between any analyzer, pre-analysis system, post-analysis system, storage device, etc. in a diagnostic laboratory. Disclosure of Invention It is an object of the present invention to make a diagnostic laboratory distribution system more reliable and safer. This is achieved by an apparatus according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 10. A first aspect of the invention relates to a diagnostic laboratory distribution system, wherein the distribution system comprises a plurality of carriers, wherein the carriers are adapted to carry one or more items. The article may be anything to be dispensed in the diagnostic laboratory, such as a sample tube, a reagent container, a pipette tip, other consumables, a quality control sample, any form of waste, and the like. The transport plane of the distribution system is adapted to support the carrier. The drive means of the dispensing system are adapted to move the carrier in the transport plane. The drive means may for example be realized as a magnetic coil below the transport plane in connection with a magnetic device in the carrier or as a motor in the carrier itself connected to a wheel of the carrier. The control means of the dispensing system are used to control the driving means. The control device is implemented, for example, as a central or distributed computing device connected to the drives of the coils below the transport plane, or as a distributed control device in the carrier for controlling the motors of the carrier. The dispensing system includes a cover for the transport plane. Furthermore, the dispensing system comprises a humidity sensor connected to the control means and an air flow generating means connected to the control means. The humidity sensor measures the air humidity between the cover and the transport plane. The airflow generating device is distributed over the distribution system to generate an airflow between the cover and the transport plane, Wherein the control means is configured to activate the airflow generating means in case the humidity sensor measures a humidity above a predetermined threshold. The air flow generating device may be a single device or a plurality of devices depending on the geometry of the transport plane layout. For example, a single straight path requires only one airflow generating device, where a complex design with multiple intersections and branches requires more than one airflow generating device. In a further embodiment, the predetermined humidity threshold is dependent on the item to be transported. In another embodiment, a threshold value well below the dew point in the range of 60% to 90% relative humidity (in particular 70% to 80% or 75% relative humidity) is used. Another aspect of the invention is a dispensing system wherein the control means is configured to stop the air flow generating means in case the humidity sensor measures a humidity value below a predetermined threshold. A further aspect of the dispensing system of the present invention is that the airflow generating means generates a laminar airflow. Laminar flow means that the air particles follow a smooth path in the layer. In a further embodiment, a humidity sensor is distributed over the distribution system to control humidity above the transport plane. This distribution allows the humidity of the air to be measured in all areas. In yet another embodiment, the humidity sensor operates continuously. In a further embodiment, the humidity sensor is adapted to measure humidity if the carrier is within the sensor range of the respective humidity sensor. Another aspect of the invention is a distribution system wherein the transport plane of the distribution system is arranged in a line and an intersection, wherein the cover of the distribution system comprises a negative pressure discharge orifice, wherein the negative pressure discharge orifice is placed around or at the intersection such that a laminar air flow is maintained at the intersection. In a particular embodiment, the negative pressure discharge orifices are placed in pairs on opposite sides of the intersection. A further aspect of the dispensing system of the present invention is that the cover comprises a heating element to heat the cover, wherein the control means is connected to the heating element, wherein the control means is configured to activate and deactivate the heating element in accordance with a predetermined second threshold value of the signal of the humidity sensor. In a further embodiment,