System for automatically identifying, conveying and addressing biological material specimens

Abstract

There is described an automated laboratory system for handling test tubes containing biological material specimens supported by conveying devices () along guide lanes (), in which motorized conveyor belts () run, comprising main lanes () and secondary lanes () for overtaking the conveying devices () and/or routing the conveying devices () of the test tubes () to the various pre-testing, (-), testing () and post-testing stations (). Said system further comprises a detecting device () of the test tube () positioned in the loading area of the test tube () into the conveying device (), a reading device of a barcode applied onto the side surface of said test tube () adapted to identify the test tube (), said barcode being applied to the test tube before it is loaded into the conveyor device, identifying and control means, preferably of the RFID type, of the conveying device () of the test tubes (), comprising a network of antennas () appropriately located in the system at stop devices () so as to be able to communicate with the transponders of corresponding conveying means () storing recognizing data of the corresponding conveying device (), and a control unit () capable of associating the conveying devices () of the test tubes () to the corresponding test tubes by receiving data and transmitting commands to the devices mounted in the system.