US 20180372768A1 ( 19) United States (12 ) Patent Application Publication ( 10) Pub . No. : US 2018 /0372768 A1 Bryant et al. (43 ) Pub . Date : Dec . 27 , 2018 (54 ) METHODS OF AUTOMATIZED SAMPLE Publication Classification LOADING AND PROCESSING AND DEVICES (51 ) Int. CI. AND SYSTEMS RELATED THERETO GOIN 35 / 10 (2006 . 01) GOIN 35 /00 (2006 . 01) (71 ) Applicant: Abbott Molecular Inc. , Des Plaines, IL ( 52 ) U . S . CI. (US ) CPC . GOIN 35 / 1083 ( 2013 .01 ) ; GOIN 35 /00732 ( 72 ) Inventors: Jason E . Bryant, Eliot, ME ( US) ; ( 2013 . 01 ) ; GOIN 35 / 1079 ( 2013 .01 ) ; GOIN Brett W . Johnson , Naperville , IL (US ) ; 2035/ 00752 (2013 . 01 ) ; GOIN 35/ 1065 Richard J . Schoon , Southborough , MA ( 2013 .01 ) (US ) (21 ) Appl. No. : 16/ 013 ,758 ( 57 ) ABSTRACT Provided are methods for the automated loading and / or (22 ) Filed : Jun . 20 , 2018 automatic processing of one or more samples in an auto mated sample processing device . Also provided are auto Related U . S . Application Data mated sample loading systems and devices that include (60 ) Provisional application No . 62 / 523 ,058 , filed on Jun . automated sample loading systems or devices that are uti 21 , 2017 lized in such systems. ¡Rack Y- Motion Inside Instrument -: 0000000000 - Sample Racks 102 AAAOOOOOO 00000000000 00000000000 ooooooooooo 100000000000 1000000OOOOO ooooooooo0001 ooooooooOOOO SloooooOOOOOOO SOO00000000001 101 X -Motion | Imaging i Camera - - - - - - 108 107 User Access Sample Foldable Exterior : Barrier Rack ! Sample Rack 1 Present ! Loading Shelf ; - 106 Sensor Loading Shelf 00000000001 Position Sensor 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Sample Rack Lane Patent Application Publication Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 1 of 12 US 2018 /0372768 A1 FIG . 1 ¡Rack Y -Motion e00000 Inside !000000000000 i0000000000001 Instrument 000000000000 OOOOOOOOOOOO ooo0000000001 Sample Racks Oo00000000000 OOOOOOOOOOOOK 101 X -Motion Imaging Camera 108 107 - User Access Sample Foldable Exterior Barrier Rack 1 Sample Rack =: Present | Loading Shelf ; 106 Sensor Loading Shelf Position Sensor os lololololo000000000000000000 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 - Sample Rack Lane Patent Application Publication Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 2 of 12 US 2018 /0372768 A1 FIG . 2 i IT C 200 W W AUD mode PeterCON FIG . 3 Vauvan SHIYOOO ODOSIERDOOR KORAKUODA PAKALPO KUORMOU MORE STANTINO ARKIVSede o 12 prs. RAM W DUDAKSIEVODOWATYVOOR CONUDIOsoon ORDSWOORWOORDWORDSWORDS wanneerwhopinakamata Screenshot pa ACAAN CHOCO ICIULEIDOUDOWODAR copacos onor UGOgrovopokryna snivannbad BOOOKIOSOVO12 ong UIMMUUNSONVocean 303 U ONTOWA WOObut bro awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Marie DOVODIO TO TO ONVINARIO 300 M DICKWOODWOROWO De ro eco W Mexico COM baggegg SWOT P00S Www COCOPHETADA MORE AGDATA TE DONANORMANN nd KROMOUREUX*X CHADEMA mw ISION ALAMANCAKSESSION OVO CARA IE MUDAC MOLDURAS ben WO MOOISOMEOWNLOADS MOVIEROSARIO AASSIM th 302 ASSADEWACOVICHOCHORONOKKAERANDUODAMASOKNAKKAS S MATAHAR MODATKOWOCKSACKne 12 HODOUDOS KODUKORRACOWMODASI RA FOOD A medici KOWICKARDOMACKMORIONDOMICIDCCOMMODOS O SCHOONMA DODACOS ogowo .00 ADVOCACHOKOSOVARAkemana WWW Patent Application Publication Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 3 of 12 US 2018 /0372768 A1 FIG . 4 . '. Small . '. Diameter . Tube '. '. ' '. , ' '. '. ' '. ' '. - Large - - '. Diameter '. Tube ' DEN . '. '. '. '. '. 402 '. '. Spring '. Arm '. '. '. 400 . '. Sample '. Rack '. I '. ' . '. '. '. Patent Application Publication Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 4 of 12 US 2018 /0372768 A1 -Barcode(Typ) Rack Retention Bar -SampleCup —SampleTubewithPierceableCap ImagingCameraFieldofView :-:-: FIG.5 " . ! : : . ' . ; : . ' . ; . , . ; : : . .. : : : :: : : : : : : : . - . : : : : : : : : : : Tubesof 500 Sample Various Diameters andLengths . , , ' ' , ' ' , ' , , ' . , , . , , ' ' . 502 Patent Application Publication Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 5 of 12 US 2018 /0372768 A1 . ??? , ???? ?? ???????????? thtter. 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FIG.13 . .. .. olHHHHHHH ALS I Tapety wie Y . .. 1301 1300 Patent Application Publication Dec . 27 , 2018 Sheet 12 of 12 US 2018 /0372768 A1 FIG . 14 F - - - - - Open lane Rack properly placed on - - - Rack processed . Ready for removal Do not use lane Rack placed in busy lane Error. See screen for further instructions . US 2018 /0372768 A1 Dec. 27 , 2018 METHODS OF AUTOMATIZED SAMPLE the size of the sample container present in the slot; c ) LOADING AND PROCESSING AND DEVICES whether the sample container is capped or uncapped ; or d ) AND SYSTEMS RELATED THERETO a combination thereof. [0006 ] In some embodiments , the sample rack comprises CROSS -REFERENCE TO RELATED a plurality of slots each dimensioned to receive a sample APPLICATIONS container . In some embodiments ,