US 12,169,206 B2
Method of handling laboratory sample containers and apparatus for handling laboratory sample containers
Raul Baltasar Badaya, Stuttgart (DE); and Julian Baumgart, Backnang (DE)
Assigned to Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on Oct. 10, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/597,913.
Claims priority of application No. 18202153 (EP), filed on Oct. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0124627 A1, Apr. 23, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/02 (2006.01); G01N 35/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/00623 (2013.01) [G01N 35/026 (2013.01); G01N 35/04 (2013.01)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of handling laboratory sample containers, the method comprising:
a) using an apparatus comprising at least one motor in conjunction with a gripping device to move a laboratory sample container to a target position (TP), wherein the target position (TP) is a position at which the laboratory sample container is inserted into a corresponding orifice of a laboratory sample container rack provided that the laboratory sample container rack is placed at an intended position, wherein the laboratory sample container is prevented from moving horizontally more than a predetermined horizontal distance (Δxy) if inserted into the corresponding orifice of the laboratory sample container rack;
b) applying a force (Fxy) through the at least one motor and gripping device in a horizontal direction (xy) to move the laboratory sample container;
c) using feedback from the motor to determine movement of the laboratory sample container in the horizontal direction (xy) more than the predetermined horizontal distance (Δxy), where the feedback includes a determination that no false negative resulting from applying the force (Fxy) in the horizontal direction (xy) is present; and
d) performing an error procedure upon a determination that movement of the laboratory sample container in the horizontal direction (xy) more than the predetermined horizontal distance (Δxy) has occurred by: generating an error message indicating that the laboratory sample container rack is not placed at the intended position, wherein the error message is generated by producing an acoustic sign and/or a visual sign and/or data; and preventing the gripping device from releasing the laboratory sample container based on the generated error message.