275 results about "Specimen containers" patented technology

A specimen carrier comprises a unitary structure for receiving and retaining a specimen container in an upright orientation. Such unitary structure is defined by a pedestal having upper and lower platforms connected by a stem. Extending upwardly from the upper platform is a plurality of rigid members which support a plurality of opposing flexible fingers adapted to engage and press upon the side wall of a specimen container received by the carrier. Preferably, the specimen carrier of the invention has a chamber formed therein for housing a pre-programmed, programmable or otherwise radio-frequency (RF) identification tag in the form of an RF transponder. Upon being energized by a suitable RF field provided by an RF reader antenna or sensor positioned adjacent the carrier's intended path of movement, the tag transmits a unique identification code, such code being received by the antenna or sensor and decoded by the reader.

A specimen-transport module adapted for use with each of a plurality of specimen-processing instruments of a multi-instrument clinical workcell. Such module is adapted to transport individual racks of specimen-containers relative to a specimen-aspiration probe of an associated instrument in a workcell, as well as to transfer selected racks of specimen-containers to an adjacent and identical specimen-transport module associated with another clinical instrument of the workcell. Since the same transport system is used to both present specimens for aspiration and to transfer specimens between instruments, there is no need for two independent conveyances as is characteristic of the prior art. Preferably, the specimen-transport module includes a magnetic X / Y transport system that operates beneath a rack-supporting surface to advance racks in mutually perpendicular directions across a supporting surface via magnetic forces.

The present invention provides a method and device for collecting treating and analysis of biological or chemical material by introducing a source material into a specimen container, transferring the source material to a processing device and thermally, chemically and / or mechanically treating the source material to alter at least one constitutive characteristic of the source material and to release or create a target material from the source material.

A tray (100) for accommodating a coiled medical device, such as a catheter assembly (700), includes a first compartment (101), a second compartment (102), and a third compartment (103). The catheter assembly (700) and devices associated with a catheterization procedure, such as syringes (701,702) containing sterile water and lubricating jelly and a specimen container (703) can be disposed within the tray. Printed instructions (1001) can be included with the tray (100). When a CSR wrap (1000) is disposed about the tray (100), the printed instructions can be placed atop the CSR wrap (1000) but beneath an outer sterile wrap (1002). The printed instructions (1001) can include a patient portion (1202) that is detachably coupled to a health care services portion (1201) such that it can be taken home with the patient after the procedure.

A method and a system for automatic taking of specimen from a static or living test object, comprising the steps and functional elements of guiding a specimen collector (10) by means of a guiding device (20) to a specimen terminal (22) attached to the test object (1); extracting a fluid specimen from the test object (1) to the specimen collector (10); guiding the specimen collector (10) by means of the guiding device (20) to a specimen container (50); and delivering or outputting the specimen from the specimen collector (10) to the specimen container (50).

An assay system includes an optical imager to acquire high resolution images of assay strips (e.g., lateral flow immunochromatographic test strips) and performs image processing to identify individual assay strips and determine results for each assay strip, by quantifies the presence or absence of test signal line(s) and control signal line(s). Assay strips may be in a holder or carrier contained in a specimen container also holding a specimen. The assay system automatically logs all results and data to a database that stores a high resolution image of the original immunochromatographic assay, the values of test line(s) and control line(s), and the test result. A user interface directs an end user through operation.

A system is disclosed. The system includes at least one image acquisition device configured to obtain one or more images of sample containers in a sample container holder. It also includes an image analysis device coupled to the at least one image acquisition device. The image analysis device is configured to analyze, by a processor, the one or more images of the sample containers in the sample container holder, to determine (a) a presence or absence of sample containers at sample container holder locations in the sample container holder, and (b) sample container characteristics of the sample containers in the sample container holder, wherein the sample container characteristics include one or more of cap color, cap shape, labels and markers associated with the sample containers, or one or more sample container holder characteristics.

Systems, methods and apparatus are described for a centrifuge module of a laboratory analysis system. Specimen containers may be weighed, loaded into a centrifuge adapter, and transported to a centrifuge module by an adapter shuttle. A centrifuge adapter gripper may transport the centrifuge adapter into a centrifuge for centrifugation. The centrifuge adapter may be transported by the centrifuge adapter gripper to an adapter shuttle for unloading of the specimen containers, which may be performed by a specimen container gripper. A centrifuge drawer that allows a centrifuge to be extended from its installed position is also described. Additional embodiments pertain to a sequence for replacing, in a centrifuge, a set of centrifuge adapters that have been centrifuged with a set of centrifuge adapters that have not been centrifuged. A sequence for loading specimen containers into centrifuge adapters is also described.

A specimen centrifuge apparatus comprises a specimen container carry-in system and a specimen container carry-out system. The specimen container carry-in system has a specimen container carry-in conveyor for loading pre-processed specimen containers into specimen centrifuge units stacked one on another in a centrifuge device, a carry-in elevator, a carry-in transfer arm, and a loading arm. The specimen container carry-out system has a specimen container carry-out conveyor for unloading the processed specimen containers from the specimen centrifuges, a carry-out elevator, a carry-out transfer arm, and an unloading arm.

A specimen processing system comprising: a specimen measuring section for measuring specimens accommodated in specimen containers; a transport section for transporting specimen containers to the specimen measuring section; a specimen container collect section for collecting specimen containers; an obtainer for obtaining shape information on specimen containers or state information on specimens accommodated in specimen containers; a supply judger configured for determining whether specimen containers are to be supplied to the specimen measuring section on the basis of the result obtained by the obtainer; and a delivery section for delivering specimen containers, which are determined to be supplied to the specimen measuring section by the supply judger, toward the transport section, and delivering specimen containers, which are determined not to be supplied to the specimen measuring section by the supply judger, toward the specimen container collect section, is disclosed. A specimen container classifying apparatus is also disclosed.

A specimen transport system for transporting a specimen, includes, a preceding section, a succeeding section located apart from the preceding section, a conveyor-type rack transport mechanism attached to the preceding section and / or the succeeding section and configured to transport a rack capable of holding a plurality of specimen containers which contain the specimen, and a car configured to travel between the preceding section and the succeeding section and provided with a conveyor-type rack transport mechanism configured to transport the rack capable of holding a plurality of specimen containers which contain the specimen.

A specimen dispensing system includes a conveying mechanism for conveying a master specimen container containing a specimen and a required number of empty slave specimen containers on a conveyor lane, the master and slave specimen containers being aligned in a conveyance direction. A stopping mechanism temporarily stops the master and slave specimen containers when the master and slave specimen containers reach a position under a dispensing nozzle in a dispensing unit. The dispensing unit removes the specimen from the master specimen container by the dispensing nozzle when the master specimen container is temporarily stopped in the position under the dispensing nozzle and dispenses the specimen to the slave specimen containers when the slave specimen containers are temporarily stopped in the position under the dispensing nozzle.

A specimen transport system with magnetic damping and method for transporting specimens with magnetic damping are disclosed. A conveyance device transports sample carriers configured to carry specimen containers. One or more of the sample carriers include magnets. The system may also include a diverting arm having a magnet. When a first sample carrier is transported toward a second sample carrier, a first sample carrier magnet coupled to the first sample carrier repels a second sample carrier magnet coupled to the second sample carrier. When a sample carrier is transported toward a diverting arm, a diverting arm magnet of the diverting arm repels a sample carrier magnet of the sample carrier.

A tray (100) for accommodating a coiled medical device, such as a catheter assembly (700), includes a first compartment (101), a second compartment (102), and a third compartment (103). The catheter assembly (700) and devices associated with a catheterization procedure, such as syringes (701,702) containing sterile water and lubricating jelly and a specimen container (703) can be disposed within the tray. Printed instructions (1001) can be included with the tray (100). One or more layers of wrap material (2200) can be folded about the tray (100) to enclose the tray (100) and other items, such as an additional layer of wrap material (2701), packaged liquid hand sanitizer (2401), and packaged gloves (2402). When a health care services provider (3101) unfolds the wrap material, the same can be used to create a sterile field beneath a patient (3201).

A system for the rapid analysis of microbiological parameters includes a specimen container for containing a liquid sample, a housing having an enclosable chamber shaped for receiving the specimen container, an incubating system mounted within the housing for incubating microbiological materials within the liquid sample, and a spectrophotometer system mounted within the housing for measuring light absorbed, emitted or scattered by the liquid samples as the microbiological materials are incubated by the incubating system over time. The specimen container is filled with a liquid sample to be tested and mixed with a reagent that provides a detectable parameter, and placed inside the apparatus. The incubation system heats and maintains the temperature of the liquid sample within a preset range while the spectrophotometer system propagates light within the specimen container, and monitors and records changes in the light as the light propagates through the container. A continuous non-intrusive monitoring and recording of the test parameter is achieved as the incubation progresses. Any significant deviation of the signal output is an indication of presence of the detectable parameter, while the time taken to reach the significant deviation provides quantification of the microbiological parameter under investigation.

A tray (100) for accommodating a coiled medical device, such as a catheter assembly (700), includes a first compartment (101), a second compartment (102), and a third compartment (103). The catheter assembly (700) and devices associated with a catheterization procedure, such as syringes (701,702) containing sterile water and lubricating jelly and a specimen container (703) can be disposed within the tray. A first barrier (105) and second barrier (106) separate the compartments. The barriers can have openings (121,122) therein to accommodate large syringes or to enable the first compartment (101) to be used as a lubricant applicator for the catheter. The first compartment (101) can include a stair-stepped contour (115) such that the syringes are held at different depths to facilitate ease of use. The various devices can be disposed within the tray (100) in accordance with their order of use in the catheterization procedure.

A seal cap assembly for use with a biological specimen container, the cap assembly including an integral ampoule that holds a pre-filled agent. A piercer is movably disposed in the cap assembly to pierce into the ampoule. When the cap assembly is attached to a biological specimen container, the ampoule is pierced, the pre-filled agent in the ampoule is mixed with the specimen, and the seal cap assembly seals the biological specimen container. The seal cap assembly, together with a biological specimen container, permits stabilization, storage, and transport of biological fluid samples.

A tray (100) for accommodating a coiled medical device, such as a catheter assembly (700), includes a first compartment (101), a second compartment (102), and a third compartment (103). The catheter assembly (700) and devices associated with a catheterization procedure, such as syringes (701,702) containing sterile water and lubricating jelly and a specimen container (703) can be disposed within the tray. Printed instructions (1001) can be included with the tray (100). One or more layers of wrap material (2200) can be folded about the tray (100) to enclose the tray (100) and other items, such as an additional layer of wrap material (2701), packaged liquid hand sanitizer (2401), and packaged gloves (2402). When a health care services provider (3101) unfolds the wrap material, the same can be used to create a sterile field beneath a patient (3201).

A specimen transport system with magnetic damping and method for transporting specimens with magnetic damping are disclosed. A conveyance device transports sample carriers configured to carry specimen containers. One or more of the sample carriers include magnets. The system may also include a diverting arm having a magnet. When a first sample carrier is transported toward a second sample carrier, a first sample carrier magnet coupled to the first sample carrier repels a second sample carrier magnet coupled to the second sample carrier. When a sample carrier is transported toward a diverting arm, a diverting arm magnet of the diverting arm repels a sample carrier magnet of the sample carrier.

An improved biopsy kit for the collection, storage, transportation, and processing of biopsy tissue samples is disclosed. The disclosed biopsy kit consists of a typical specimen container and an improved tissue cassette with adhesively attached polyvinyl alcohol foam pads on both the base and lid portions. An excised tissue sample is sandwiched between the pads upon cassette closure, simultaneously isolating and securing the sample in its original orientation. Superior wicking, absorbency, and moisture retention rate of these polyvinyl alcohol pads allows maximum tissue fixation as well as maintains sample integrity. Once the tissue is placed by the physician at the patient's side, it remains there until the tissue is ready to be processed. This eliminates transfer errors as well as tissue loss.

Systems and methods for system for gripping a specimen container are disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of gripper fingers, a processor, and a system for gathering data related to a specimen container. Data related to a specimen container, such as detection of the presence of a specimen container within the gripper, measurement of specimen container dimensions and weight, detection of specimen container contents, specimen tube identification, etc. are gathered. Embodiments provide an improved automated process by simultaneously performing multiple measurements and analytical processes on the specimen container, thereby providing for faster processing of the sample that resides in the specimen container.

A label and labeling system for identifying the volume of a specimen within a specimen collection container are disclosed. The system includes providing a specimen collection container having an open top end, a closed bottom end, and a sidewall extending therebetween forming an interior adapted for receiving a specimen therein. The specimen collection container also includes a label having a label body disposed over at least a portion of the sidewall, in visual alignment with a colored background. At least one of the sidewall of the specimen collection container and the label body have printing disposed thereon having a color that is substantially identical to the colored background against which the specimen collection container will be viewed. At least one of the sidewall of the specimen collection container and the label body may have colorless indicia having a surface enhancement feature for providing visual distinction.

A tray (100) for accommodating a coiled medical device, such as a catheter assembly (700), includes a first compartment (101), a second compartment (102), and a third compartment (103). The catheter assembly (700) and devices associated with a catheterization procedure, such as syringes (701,702) containing sterile water and lubricating jelly and a specimen container (703) can be disposed within the tray. Printed instructions (1001) can be included with the tray (100). One or more layers of wrap material (2200) can be folded about the tray (100) to enclose the tray (100) and other items, such as an additional layer of wrap material (2701), packaged liquid hand sanitizer (2401), and packaged gloves (2402). When a health care services provider (3101) unfolds the wrap material, the same can be used to create a sterile field beneath a patient (3201).

A specimen-transport module adapted for use with each of a plurality of specimen-processing instruments of a multi-instrument clinical workcell. Such module is adapted to transport individual racks of specimen-containers relative to a specimen-aspiration probe of an associated instrument in a workcell, as well as to transfer selected racks of specimen-containers to an adjacent and identical specimen-transport module associated with another clinical instrument of the workcell. Since the same transport system is used to both present specimens for aspiration and to transfer specimens between instruments, there is no need for two independent conveyances as is characteristic of the prior art. Preferably, the specimen-transport module includes a magnetic X / Y transport system that operates beneath a rack-supporting surface to advance racks in mutually perpendicular directions across a supporting surface via magnetic forces.

Improved systems and methods are provided for monitoring compliance with an order for a patient specimen. Broadly, an inventive system incorporates a machine readable wireless identification and sensor technology to provide feedback to a caregiver regarding compliance with a specimen order. In particular, a system for monitoring compliance with an order for a specimen is provided which includes a specimen container having an attached machine readable wireless tag. The tag contains specimen container characteristic information. The tagged container aids in indicating to a user whether the correct specimen container type has been chosen. Further, a system is provided which includes a sensor useful in indicating whether a sufficient quantity of specimen has been obtained in order to perform the requested laboratory test as part of the patient's care.

A specimen sensing apparatus according to the present invention includes a specimen container which is vertically positioned by a container holder of a columnar rack type and conveyed by a belt conveyor, an infrared CCD camera configured to pick up an infrared image of the specimen container, a visible image converter which converts the infrared image picked up by the infrared CCD camera into a visible image, an image signal processing unit which processes and converts one of the infrared image and the visible image into a signal that is suitable to measure a specimen amount, and a specimen amount measuring unit which measures an amount of specimen contained in the specimen container in response to the signal processed by the image signal processing unit.

A magnetically-attractive specimen-container rack for use with a magnetic transport system for transporting racks of specimen-containers to or within an automated clinical instrument for analysis and / or processing. The specimen-container rack comprises a pair of U-shaped magnetically-attractive members mounted in the base section of the rack housing so that the distal ends of such members extend towards the base of the rack and terminate in a plane slightly short of the plane in which the rack is supported for movement atop a rack-supporting surface. Such members are adapted to cooperate with similarly-shaped permanent magnets carried by an X / Y-movable truck that underlies a non-magnetic rack-supporting plate. Other features of the rack include a pair of side-pockets formed in one side of the rack in the vicinity of the end walls of the rack housing, such pockets serving to receive a movably-mounted member associated with a linear drive mechanism by which the rack can be physically advanced edgewise along a linear path; and notch structure by which the rack can be releasably engaged by a movably-mounted plate which serves to lift and invert the rack to effect mixing of contained specimens.