Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Michael Eberhardt

Martin Mueller

Sebastian Wiessner

Charles Martinez

Martin Müller

Thomas Moix

Jurjen Zoethout

Christoph Welte

Andreas Weihs

Charles W Johns

Stephen L Otts

Gerhard Gunzer

Bernd Wiedemann

Luciano Brueggemann

Joseph F Quint

Guillaume Ding

Kathleen M Payne

Chi S Chen

Manuel Sickert

Kathleen Payne

Thomas T Nguyen

Guenther Schulmayr

Samuel H Rizotte

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method comprising receiving instruction data relating to a sample in a sample container. The method includes generating, by at least one processor using a workflow management layer, a process plan for the sample, and providing the process plan to a process control layer. The process plan comprises a plurality of possible routes. The method also comprises selecting, by the at least one processor using the process control layer, an optimized route within the plurality of possible routes in the process plan, and providing the optimized route to a middleware control layer. The at least one processor and middleware control layer are operable to cause a transport system to proceed along the selected route.

Automated sample processing system

Disclosed aspects relate to a conveyance system and method for conveying a plurality of object carriers. The conveyance system comprises at least one first conveyor lane section, and at least, two second conveyor lane sections. The conveyance system further comprises a rotatable diverting element for diverting an object carrier of the plurality of object carriers between the at least one first conveyor lane section and one of the at least two second conveyor lane sections of the conveyance system.

Conveyance system for conveying object carriers

The invention concerns a laboratory product transport element for a laboratory transport system with an energy receiver and/or energy accumulator to provide drive power, at least one signal receiver to receive control signals, a control unit to generate drive signals as a function of at least one control signal obtained from the at least one signal receiver, movement devices for independent movement of the laboratory product transport element on a transfer path as a function of the drive signals of the control unit, in which the drive devices are driven by the drive power and at least one holder to hold a laboratory product being transported. The invention also concerns a laboratory transport system with at least one laboratory product transport element according to an embodiment of the invention and a transfer path arrangement. The invention also concerns methods for operation of laboratory transport systems according to an embodiment of the invention.

Laboratory product transport element and path arrangement

A method for creating a laboratory automation system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a plurality of subgraphs that correspond to a plurality of system blocks. The system blocks are chosen and the subgraphs are stitched together to form a site graph for the laboratory automation system.

Method and system for forming site network

A sample container cap is disclosed. The sample cap container includes a sample cap body capable of covering an opening of a sample container and a centrifugation status indicator device in the top of the sample cap body. The centrifugation status indicator device includes: a first substance having a first density and a first color, and a second substance having a second density and a second color. The centrifugation status indicator device displays the first substance when the sample container has been centrifuged. The first substance can be a gel, and the second substance can include a plurality of particles. The second density is higher than the first density and the second color is different from the first color.

Sample container cap with centrifugation status indicator device

A system is disclosed. The system includes an aliquotter module. The aliquotter module includes a track including: a travel lane; a first loop; and a second loop configured to transport sample carriers with primary sample containers. The aliquotter module can further include a pipettor that can aspirate a first aliquot volume of a sample in a primary sample container located in an aspiration position and dispense the first aliquot volume of the sample in a secondary sample container located in a dispensing position. The aliquotter module can cause the secondary sample container to leave the aliquotter module before the primary sample container.

Aliquotter system and workflow

System and method including laboratory product transport element

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.

Specimen container detection

Growing community of inventors

Munich, Germany

Michael Eberhardt