Apparatus for removing cap from sample tube and recapping sample tube

The present invention belongs to the field of in vitro diagnosis, and particularly relates to a device that automatically removes a closing member from a sample tube. More specifically, reference is made to a cap removal / recap device that removes the closure member from the sample tube and recloses the same tube with the same respective closure member. The present invention also refers to pipette systems and analytical systems equipped with the cap removal / recap device.

Biological samples, such as blood samples, from various medical institutions usually arrive in the laboratory in different types of tubes with various closure members. These are called primary sample tubes because they are used to collect samples, for example by venipuncture.

There is a device that can process the primary sample tube without removing the closure member, that is, a device that can process the primary sample tube by puncturing the closure member with, for example, a pipette needle and accessing the sample contained in the primary tube. To do. However, not all closure members are suitable for this means, and not all types of equipment and / or analysis allow the use of this means. Some types of equipment and / or analysis require the sample tube to be opened before the sample is pretreated and / or analyzed. Therefore, such equipment should have an automatic decapper for automatically removing the closure member from the primary tubing.

Automatic decapping of test tubes is complicated by a variety of commercially available test tubes of different diameters and heights, and in particular a variety of commercially available closure members. Some closure members have threads so that they can be screwed onto the primary tube, for example. Yet another type of closure is a rubber stopper or cap that can be removed by a pull-out operation. Closing members may also differ in their composition. The closing member may be made of rubber, plastic, or the like.

When removing the cap of a tube, care must be taken not to break the tube, which is usually made of glass or plastic, and not to leak any sample. In addition, there is a restriction that leaked samples and vapors should not be transferred to other tubes in the instrument as they cause cross-contamination and interfere with sample inspection and analysis. Biohazard is also a problem, as the sample may be contaminated. Therefore pipes and closures must be reliably treated and / or discarded.

Devices capable of decapping, i.e. cap removing devices capable of removing the closing member from all or most of these types of primary tubing, have been developed and are available on the market.

Once the primary tube has been opened and a certain amount of sample has been withdrawn, it is often desirable to reclose the primary tube for the safety reasons mentioned above, and in any case if further analysis is needed later. It is often desirable to reclose the primary tube when the sample must be stored for a long period of time.

One approach is to dispose of the original closure after opening the primary tubing and reclose the primary tubing with another standard or universal closure. This has the main advantage of making various steps such as opening, pipetting and reclosing more independent of each other. In this way, the primary tube is opened by a cap remover, allowing the sample to be pipetted and moved to the work cell being processed, and then reclosed with a new closure member, a process prior to this. You can start again for another tube before the processing of one tube is complete. Another advantage is that recapping is easier because one type of standard closure is used, and cap removal is also easier if the tubing needs to be reopened. It means that it will be done. However, the disadvantage is that new closures are introduced into each primary tubing, which increases processing costs and waste and requires carrying new closures to the recap device for each tubing. This means that the complexity of the recap device will increase.

Ideally, a closure member removed from the primary tubing is used to reclose the same tubing. Also known are cap removal / recap devices that can remove all types of closure members and reclose the tube with the same closure member after a certain amount of sample has been withdrawn. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of such an apparatus. This type of device, however, reduces sample throughput because all of the tube opening, pipetting, closing and moving steps must be completed before the steps are repeated for another primary tube. There is a demerit.

<p><patcit num="1"><text>U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,476</text></patcit></p>

<p> One object of the present invention is to improve the throughput of sample tube processing and reduce the processing cost.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, each of the passive closure member grippers is provided with a plurality of individual passive closure member holders and a passive closure member gripper when the closure member is removed or the tube is closed again. Achieved by a cap remover or cap remover and recap device that includes at least one actuator to actuate. Here, one actuator is connected to one passive closure gripper when the closure member must be removed from the pipe or the closure member must be released from the closure member gripper, and the closure member holder. Is disengaged from the passive closure member gripper when is holding the closure member.</p><p> This improves processing throughput without the use of additional closure members and without strict restrictions on the processing process. In this way, cost savings are also achieved by avoiding the use of additional closure members and reducing the complexity of the device.</p><p> Another advantage is that the device allows processing of variable shape sample tubes and also allows processing of sample tubes with variable shape closure members. This also makes it possible to process primary and secondary tubing.</p><p> Yet another advantage is that the risk of cross-contamination is minimized.</p><p> Yet another advantage is that throughput is improved even if the device is used only as a cap remover.</p><p> Another advantage of the present invention is that the throughput of sample processing in a system containing multiple work cells can be maximized.</p><p> This is a cap removal / recap device where each work cell removes the closure member from the primary tube when and where the sample needs to be withdrawn and recloses the primary tube before being transferred to another work cell. Achieved by having.</p><p> One advantage of the present invention is that the pipe, closed by a closure member, can be transferred within the system, from one work cell to another, and opened only when and where it is needed. is there. In this way, the risk of sample leakage from the tube, the risk of cross-contamination, the risk of evaporation and biohazard can be minimized.</p><p> By using the cap removal / recap device according to the present invention, the throughput of the sample tube cap removal and recap can be controlled by sample processing of each work cell without depending on the throughput of the central or common cap removal / recap device. Can be adapted to throughput and specific workflows. It is also possible to adapt the cap removal / recap device to the type of sample tube carrier required for each work cell, which carries, for example, a single sample tube carrier or multiple sample tubes. They may be different from each other, such as racks for.</p><p> The present invention relates to a cap removing device for removing a closing member from a sample tube, the device comprising a plurality of separate closing member holders, each containing a passive closing member gripper holding the closing member. The device also separates the tube and its closure from each other when removing the closure from the tube, or when removing the closure, with at least one actuator that activates the passive closure gripper when releasing the closure. Includes at least one tube gripper that works with at least one actuator that biases away. The actuator is coupled to one passive closure gripper of the closure holder when the closure member must be removed from the tubing or the closure member must be released, and the closure member holder is the closure member. Is disengaged from the passive closure member gripper.</p><p> More specifically, the present invention relates to a cap removal / recap device that removes a closing member from a sample tube and recloses the same tube using the same respective closing member, each of which has a closing member. Includes a number of separate closure member holders, including a passive closure gripper to hold. The device also includes at least one actuator that activates the passive closure gripper when removing the closure from the tubing or when reclosing the closure with its respective closure, and when removing the closure. At least one tubing that works with at least one actuator that biases the tubing and its closing members away from each other and biases the tubing and its closing members towards each other when the tubing is reclosed. Includes with gripper. The actuator is coupled to one passive closure gripper in the closure holder when the closure member must be removed from the tubing or the tubing must be reclosed with its respective closure member. Further, when the closing member holding portion holds the closing member, the connection is released from the passive closing member gripper.</p><p> According to the present invention, the "sample tube", which is also referred to as a "tube" in the present specification, is a sample such as a blood sample received from a patient, and the sample contained therein is sent to an analytical laboratory for diagnostic purposes. A sampling test tube, also called a "primary tube", used to transfer the sample, or a "secondary tube" that can be used to receive a sample dispense from the primary tube. The primary tube is usually made of glass or plastic and has a closed end and an open end that is closed by a closing member. The primary tube may be made of different materials exhibiting different shapes and colors and is usually associated with the type of tube, i.e. the type of sample contained therein and the type of conditions under which the sample contained therein is exposed. For example, there are tubes containing anticoagulants or coagulants, and tubes containing gels that facilitate the separation of plasma and the like. Different types of primary tubes are usually the result of mere customization by different primary tube manufacturers. In most cases they reflect the type of sample and / or the analysis they receive. Among other things, there are primary tubes of different sizes, i.e. different diameters and / or different heights, to accept different amounts of samples. Therefore, a single laboratory and usually a single instrument are required to allow the operation of different types of primary tubing with potentially different types of closure members. The secondary tube is usually made of plastic and may vary in size and type less than the primary tube. In particular, the secondary tubing may be smaller than the primary tubing and may be designed to be closed using, for example, a threaded, one or similar type of closing member.</p><p> As used herein, the term "closing member" is used to refer to all types of caps, including threaded caps and rubber stoppers, which are opened and / or screwed by push-pull and / or screwing operations, respectively. Can be closed.</p><p> The "cap removing device" according to the present invention is a device capable of automatically opening the same or different types of sample tubes by removing the same or different types of closing members from their respective tubes.</p><p> The "cap removal / recap device" according to the present invention can automatically open the same or different types of sample tubes by removing the same or different types of closure members from their respective tubes, and can also be removed from these tubes. It is a device that can automatically reclose the sample tube by using the same closing member as the closing member. Therefore, the cap removal / recap device is further a cap removal device configured to reclose the sample tube using the same respective closing members. Also, the cap removal / recap device may only be used as a cap removal device. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the general term "device" is hereinafter used to refer to a cap remover and / or a cap remover / recap device.</p><p> The device according to the invention includes a plurality of separate closure member holders, each containing a passive closure member gripper holding the closure member. The "closing member holding portion" is from the removal of the cap, that is, the removal of the closing member from the sample tube, to the disposal or recapping of the closing member, that is, the reclosing of the same sample tube using the same closing member. , A device that can hold a closing member. Each closure member retainer includes a passive closure member gripper whose function is to hold the closure member firmly by the passive frictional pressure applied to the outer surface of the closure member, allowing the closure member to move and / or It is to prevent it from falling. "Passive" means that the passive closure member gripper and device are used only when the closure member is removed from the sample tube, when the closure member is discarded, or when the sample tube is reclosed with each closure member. There is a force or energy transfer between other components, especially the actuator, and between cap removal and disposal or recapping, there is a force or energy transfer between the passive closure gripper and the actuator. It means that it does not exist. The force required to hold the closure member during this period is an elastic, force towards the inner surface of the passive closure member gripper itself. Therefore, the closing member gripper needs to be coupled to the actuator if cap removal or recapping must be performed, but is passive in the sense that such an operation cannot be performed without being coupled to the actuator. is there.</p><p> An "actuator" is a device that transfers force or energy to a passive closure gripper when actuating, i.e. removing the closure from the tubing or reclosing the tubing with the respective closures. .. This actuator is coupled to the passive closure gripper of the closure holder when the closure member must be removed from the tubing or when the tubing must be scrapped or reclosed with its respective closure member. Also, when the closing member holding portion holds the closing member, the connection is released from the passive closing member gripper. According to one embodiment, this force is an axial force transmitted to the passive closure gripper by applying positive or negative pressure, for example by pushing or pulling the passive element of the passive closure gripper. is there. The force may also be alternative or additionally related to rotation, which is transmitted to the passive closing member gripper by connecting to a rotary drive means. However, this force may be induced, i.e., without physical contact, for example by a magnet.</p><p> When referring to the relationship between the actuator and the passive closure gripper, "coupling" or "in a coupling connection" means that the actuator is engaged with the passive closure gripper and from the actuator the passive closure gripper. It means that the force can be transmitted to. Engagement may occur by physical contact and / or alignment. "Disengaged" means that the actuator and the passive closure gripper are disengaged, that is, physically separated or displaced from each other. Alternatively, the actuator and passive closure gripper may remain in physical contact or alignment, but the transfer of force from the actuator to the passive closure gripper is stopped, which is the passive closure member from the actuator. It means that there is no force or energy transfer to the gripper.</p><p> According to the present invention, a plurality of closing member holding portions can be connected to one or more actuators in this way. According to one embodiment, one or more actuators are fixed in the device, while the plurality of closure member holders are connected to one or more actuators in turn. It is movable with respect to a fixed actuator. Of course, the reverse is also possible, in which case a plurality of closing member holding portions are fixed and one or more actuators can be moved with respect to the fixed closing member holding portion.</p><p> According to the present invention, the device further biases the tubing and its closing members away from each other when removing the closing member and biases the tubing and its closing members towards each other when reclosing the tubing. Includes at least one tube gripper that works with one actuator. According to one embodiment, the at least one tube gripper is aligned with at least one actuator. If there are multiple actuators and multiple tube grippers, two or more tube grippers may be aligned with each number of actuators. According to one embodiment, the tubing gripper is configured to lift the tubing and also hold the tubing against a closing member holder connected to the actuator, the actuator for removing the closing member from the sample tube or the closing member. Work with the tubing gripper to reclose the tubing with each original closing member held by the retainer. However, while the tube gripper can hold the sample tube without lifting the sample tube, it is also possible to configure the device so that the closure member holder and / or actuator is moved relative to the tube gripper. Alternatively, the tube gripper and the closure member holder and / or actuator can move relative to each other.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the closing member gripper comprises a gripping means and a pretension member such as a spring connected to the gripping means, because it exerts pressure on the sides of the closing member symmetrically arranged between them. In addition, the gripping means is pretensioned with respect to the closing member holding portion in one pivot direction (closing direction). This pressure can be released by the force applied by the actuator to the pretension member when the actuator is connected to the passive closure member gripper. The closure member is preferably hung and held by gripping means without touching other surfaces of the device components until discarded or returned to their respective sample tubes.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the gripping means comprises a plurality of jaws that are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical central axis of the closure member holder, each jaw being preferably arranged in a two-dimensional array. It includes a friction surface that is preferably a plurality of protrusions, such as a protrusion, such as a conical protrusion, and the jaws cooperate with each other to grip and hold the closure member.</p><p> This embodiment is particularly good at removing and holding closure members of variable shapes and materials, as the maximum gripping force can be achieved with minimal contact surfaces, and the closure members It is also particularly good to use to reclose the sample tube. In this way, the closure member can be held firmly without falling during holding or during sliding through the jaws during removal or reattachment. In addition, asymmetric deformation of the closure member is prevented for smooth and efficient cap removal and recapping. Also, since contact between the gripper and the outer surface of the closing member occurs minimally, cross-contamination from one closing member to the next with a small amount of sample that may be present on the inner and / or bottom of the closing member. Minimize the risk of contamination. According to one embodiment, each jaw can be pivoted around a horizontal jaw axis by varying its angle with respect to the vertical central axis of the closure member holder. This allows the jaws to fit the sides of the closing member with different slopes without losing the gripping surface and gripping force.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the closing member holder comprises a passive closing member extrusion element independent of the gripping means, which exerts a pressing force on the closing member in the vertical direction when the pressure of the gripping means is released. In order to exert, it includes an elastic member such as a spring. The extrusion element may advantageously be mounted above the gripping means, eg, jaws. In this way, when inserting the closing member into the space between the gripping means, for example by lifting the closed sample tube toward the closing member holding portion, the extrusion element is pushed upward by the closing member and the elastic member is tensioned. Can be applied. The elastic force of the elastic member is selected to be weaker than the elastic force of the pretension member. Therefore, as long as the closing member is firmly held by the gripping means, the extrusion element is restricted to exerting pressure only on the top surface of the closing member during holding without any additional effect. If the closure member is returned to the sample tube, the effect of the extrusion element during reclosure is negligible, even if it can contribute to closure. If the closing member needs to be disposed of by releasing the pressure of the gripping means, for example by releasing the jaws when connecting to the actuator, and dropping the closing member by gravity, the closing member remains stationary. Occasionally, the closure member gripper may remain clogged. The extrusion element is therefore advantageously designed to contribute to ejecting the closing member by pushing it out of the closing member holding portion. The extrusion element, however, may be designed to have an additional effect, especially on top of certain types of closure members, such as concave shapes, i.e. rubber stoppers with cavities. In this case, if at least a part of the extrusion element is molded to fit into the cavity of the closing member, the asymmetric deformation and / or tilt of the closing member when gripping the closing member by the gripping means is prevented. It can be. This is the proper cap removal of the sample tube</p><p> According to one embodiment, the closing member gripper can rotate around the vertical central axis of the closing member holding portion when the actuator is connected to the passive closing member gripper, and the actuator can rotate the closing member gripper to rotate the closing member gripper. It is equipped with a member gripper driving means. Screw-type screwable closure members may require rotation. Rotation, however, may also be advantageous for other types of closure members that do not necessarily require screwing. According to one embodiment, the closure member gripper is rotated and thus causes the closure member to rotate relative to the tubing, while the tubing gripper keeps the tubing stationary. It is also possible to rotate the tube while keeping the closing member stationary between the gripping means.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the device continuously and / or repeatedly brings a plurality of closure member holders into a coupling connection with one or more actuators, a closure member holder drive means, and / or a tube. It is equipped with a tube conveyor for bringing the tubes into a gripping array using a gripper at one time.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the device comprises a cap removal station in which the cap removal actuator is aligned with the cap removal side tube gripper and a recap station in which the recap actuator is aligned with the recap side tube gripper. .. Here, the closing member gripper and the pipe are from the cap removing actuator and the cap removing side pipe gripper working with the closing member gripper to remove the closing member from the pipe, from the recap actuator and the recap side pipe gripper. Can be moved to a recap station that works with the same closing member gripper holding the closing member to recap the same tube with the same closing member. The cap removal and recap actuators may be structurally identical, but have different dedicated functions, i.e., functions for cap removal and recap, respectively. Among other things, they are connected to the same passive closure gripper and configured to operate it, but more specifically, for example, the closure gripper drive means, the passive closure gripper clockwise or counterclockwise. It can be adapted to either cap removal or recap by setting it to rotate in the direction.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the plurality of individual closure member holders are arranged in a movable linear array or a rotatable rotor-like array or robotic arm-like transfer unit, which has random access to any actuator. According to one embodiment, the plurality of closure member holders are symmetrically arranged on a rotating rack-type rotor with a plate or branch that is rotatable around a central axis of rotation. In this case, the closing member gripper driving means comprises a motor that drives the rotary rack in a controlled manner around its axis via a mechanism such as a belt wheel or a gear or a guiding mechanism. The rotor may include a position sensor that controls and / or monitors the angle of rotation to facilitate proper placement between the actuator and the closure member holder per rotation.</p><p> The sample tube can be moved to the device, especially to the cap removal station and / or recap station using a tube conveyor. The sample tubes are preferably carried by tube carriers, which are either so-called "Pucks", which are carriers of a single tube, or so-called "tube racks", which are carriers of multiple tubes. .. Multiple tube carriers include, for example, multiple tube receptors for accepting up to five or more tubes, and are usually configured to accept different types of tubes, ie, tubes of different diameters and heights. Will be done. The tube conveyor is therefore driven by a motor and is arranged so that the tube carriers are moved step by step to align the tubes one at a time with the cap removal and / or recap station. It may be provided with a transfer unit such as a rail. The transfer unit, however, may be customized according to the requirements of the cap removal / recap device and may be configured to run on a special tubing carrier confined to the work area of the cap removal / recap device. In this case, a reformatting device that transfers the sample tubes from the pack and / or tube rack to these special carriers and vice versa may be operably coupled to the cap removal / recap device. The closing member holding unit drive means and the pipe conveyor are preferably synchronized to carry the pipe and its closing member to the same recap station after the closing member has been removed at the cap removal station.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the device works with a tube gripper to determine the height at which the tube should be lifted when removing the closure member from the tube or when reclosing the tube with the closure member. It is equipped with a vessel. The height measurement detector may be, for example, a code reader that reads a code placed on a tube or a tube carrier and identifies the type of a tube or rack, and may be, for example, a bar code reader or an RFID reader. The height measurement detector may be optical, for example, the geometric parameters of the sample tube and / or the closure member, especially the height and / or diameter of the tube, and / or the size and shape of the closure member. Or it has a camera-type detector or other optical sensor that is configured to measure color. An example of such a camera-type detector is disclosed, for example, in US Patent Application No. 2010/018330. The height measurement detector may be configured to signal the tube gripper either directly or via a control unit. In this way, variations in sample tube type are taken into account and each sample tube is lifted according to its respective geometric parameters so that the closure member is gripped and removed, or the tube is removed by the closure member holder. Allows reclosing with a retaining member.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the tube gripper comprises a first tube gripping means and a second tube gripping means, in which the first tube gripping means is from the force and contact surface of the first tube gripping means by the second tube gripping means. Before firmly gripping and holding the pipe with great force and contact surface, respectively, the first pipe gripping means can be biased against the second gripping means to grip and lift the pipe from the pipe carrier. It can also work with the second tube gripping means. This double grip mechanism is larger and more powerful for gripping the side walls of the pipe with smaller gripping means in the often narrow space between the pipe carrier and the closure member, and for a firmer grip. Allows the gripping means to lift the tube to a height that allows it to grip the longer portion of the side wall.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the device includes an error detector, to determine if the closure member has been removed and / or if the tubing has been reclosed with its respective closure member, and /. Alternatively, a sensor and a control device are included to prevent the tube from being reclosed with a closing member that is not its respective closing member. The error detector may be the same, similar or shared component as the height measurement detector. Among other things, the error detector is an optical detector configured to measure the geometric parameters of the closure member and / or the presence or absence of the closure member on each sample tube and / or within the closure member holder, eg camera type. Detectors and other optical sensors may be included. In particular, the error detector can be configured to compare closed sample tubes before cap removal and after recap. More specifically, if there is any error in the cap removal / recap process, the error detector issues a warning or alarm signal and / or interrupts the cap removal / recap process and / or other closures. It may be set to instruct the device to reclose the sample tube and discard the failed closing member before accidentally contacting the member or other sample tube. In addition, the error detector may instruct the sample tube that remains open or the tube that fails to open to be treated separately from the remaining tubes.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the device includes a disposal station in which the disposal actuator is aligned with the disposal compartment, where the closure member holder is where the cap removal actuator and the cap removal side tube gripper remove the closure member from the tube. From a cap removal station that works with the closing member gripper to a disposal station where the disposal actuator works with the same closing member gripper holding the closing member to dispose of the closing member in the disposal compartment. You can move. Alternatively or additionally, the closure member holder is from a recap station where the recap actuator and the recap side tube gripper work with the closure member gripper to reclose the tube with their respective closure members. You can move to the disposal station. This can occur if an error occurs when trying to reclose the pipe and the closing member remains in the closing member holding portion. A closure member to free the closure member holder and make it available to another closure member from another tubing and / or to prevent a different tubing from being closed by a closure member that does not belong to that tubing. Is discarded at the disposal station before the closure member holder is returned to the cap removal or recap station.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the device includes at least one cap removal station and at least one disposal station. According to one embodiment, the device includes at least one cap removal station and at least one recap station. According to one embodiment, the device includes at least one cap removal station, at least one recap station and at least one disposal station. In all these embodiments, the plurality of closure member holders can be moved from one station to another in order to be coupled to each actuator. However, the closing member holder can also simply pass through the station without being connected to the actuator. This may be the case, for example, when the closing member holder is moved from the cap removal station to the recap station via the disposal station. There is no intention to dispose of the closing member here, and the closing member is intended to reclose its respective tube at the recap station, so unless an error is detected in the intended process, the actuator at the disposal station There is no connection with the passive closure gripper.</p><p> The invention also relates to a pipette system that draws a certain amount of sample from a sample tube and / or dispenses a fixed amount of another liquid, such as a reagent or dilution buffer, into the sample tube or reaction vessel. This pipette system is used to withdraw a certain amount of sample or a certain amount in the time frame between the cap removal / recap device according to the present invention and the reclosing of the tube using the same closing member as the opening of the tube. It is configured to dispense the liquid of, for example, includes a pipette unit synchronized with a cap removal / recap device. The pipette unit may include one or more reusable washable needles, such as steel needles, or a disposable pipette tip may be used. The pipette unit can be moved in one or two directions of movement on one plane, for example using guide rails, and can be moved in a third direction of movement orthogonal to that plane, for example using a spindle drive. It may be attached to a transfer head.</p><p> In particular, the pipette system preferably includes a pipette unit, more specifically a pipette station in which the pipette tip or needle is aligned with the open tube between cap removal and recapping. The pipette station may include a pipette tube gripper similar to or identical to the cap removal or recap side tube gripper for lifting the pipette unit for easy access to the sample contained in the tube. .. According to one embodiment, the pipette station is located between the cap removal station and the recap station in the tube carrier movement path between the cap removal station and the recap station.</p><p> In a system optimized to operate with a single tube carrier, the cap removal and recap stations are preferably located away from each other, which is a series of carriers that are adjacent to each other. Corresponds to the distance between the center of one tube in the tube and the center of the second distant tube, and the pipette station corresponds to the middle, i.e., the tube in between. In this case, the number of suitable closing member holding portions is three. The cycle can be determined in this way, in which case the three tubes can be processed within the same fixed time frame and three different steps can be performed. In particular, the first tube is open while a certain amount of sample is withdrawn from it or while a certain amount of liquid is dispensed into a pre-opened second tube, while a certain amount of liquid is released. The third tube, which has been pre-drained from it or has a certain amount of liquid pre-dispensed into it, is transferred from the cap removal station to the recap station by one of the closing member holders in the same time frame. It is reclosed using the same closing member. This cycle can then be started again.</p><p> In a system optimized to work with a tube rack, the cap removal station and recap station are preferably located at a predetermined distance from each other, which is the tube in the first receptacle of the first tube rack. Corresponds to the distance between the center of the tube and the center of the first tube in the first receptacle of the second tube rack adjacent to the first tube rack. It is advantageous that the distance between the centers of two tubes on the same rack is not equal to the distance between the center of the last tube and the center of the first tube on adjacent racks. The pipette station is also located approximately in the middle, in this case, corresponding to one of the intermediate tube positions, between the cap removal station and the recap station. If the tubing rack contains five receptacles that accept each number of tubing, then a suitable number of closure member holders is six. The cycle can be determined in this way, in which case the three tubes can be processed within the same fixed time frame and three different steps can be performed. Specifically, a tube on the rack, such as the first tube, is pipette from it while a certain amount of liquid is pipette, or into one of the preceding rack tubes in which a certain amount of liquid is pre-opened. Another tube that is open, while a certain amount of sample is pre-pipetted from it, or a certain amount of sample is pre-pipetted there, eg, the first tube on the preceding rack is the same. It is reclosed using the same closing member that is being transferred step by step from the cap removal station to the recap station by one of the six closing member holders in the time frame.</p><p> The present invention therefore also relates to a method of pipetting a sample from a sample tube using a pipette system. This method involves opening the tube by removing the closure member from the tube at the cap removal station, and with a pipette unit at the pipette station, withdrawing a certain amount of sample from the opened tube and / or a fixed amount in the open tube. It includes a step of dispensing the liquid and a step of reclosing the pipe using the same closing member at the recap station.</p><p> According to some embodiments, the method is the same in the next step, the step of opening the first tube by removing the first closure member from the first tube at the cap removal station, the recap station. The process of closing the second tube with the second closure member removed from the second tube, withdraw a certain amount of sample from the open tube at the pipette station, or fill the open tube with a certain amount of liquid. It includes a step of dispensing and a step of disposing of the closing member at the disposal station in the same time frame.</p><p> The term "time frame" is used herein to refer to a predetermined time window, eg, a few seconds, eg 1-10 seconds, which means that at least two of the steps described above are continuous or parallel, or It defines a cycle that overlaps.</p><p> According to one embodiment, this method is an independent but synchronized method of closing the pipe and its closure from a cap removal station where the closure member is removed to a recap station where the pipe is reclosed with the same closure member. The step of moving the member and the step of pipetting a certain amount of sample from the open tube and / or dispensing a certain amount of liquid into the open tube in the time frame between cap removal and recapping. Includes. According to some embodiments, the closing member is moved from the cap removal station to the recap station following a movement path that does not overlap the movement path of the sample tube except at the cap removal station and the recap station. Similarly, according to some embodiments, the pipette unit is moved along a movement path that does not overlap with the movement path of the open sample tube except at the pipette station. In this way, the sample in the open tube is prevented from being contaminated by the final dropping from the closing member or from the pipette unit while being held by the closing member holding portion.</p><p> Alternatively or additionally, the device is placed under the movement path of the closure member holder to protect other parts of the device from the resulting dripping from the closure member held by the closure member holder. It may include a plate or a shielding plate to be formed. Also, if cross-contamination is of particular concern, for example when the sample is used for nucleic acid amplification, other or additional means may be introduced, for example, the parts of the device in different compartments. It is intended to be separated or to confine the device or its parts in an aerosol-free compartment such as a hood.</p><p> The present invention also relates to an analytical system for measuring at least one sample parameter of a sample contained in a sample tube. This analytical system uses a cap removal / recap device and a sample contained in a sample tube, usually without the addition of reagents, in the time frame from opening the tube to reclosing the tube using the same closure member. Includes an analytical unit that measures at least one sample parameter, such as a physical, chemical or biological parameter. The analysis unit may include, for example, a sensor that measures the physical parameters of the sample, such as pH, temperature, color, turbidity, viscosity, or quantity such as volume, or liquid level of the sample in the tube. It may also include, for example, an optical detector or a probe that is at least partially immersed in the sample. It measures chemical or biological parameters, such as the analyte contained in a sample, by, for example, photometric measurements or other physical techniques using ion-selective electrodes or strips coated with a discoloring reagent. Can be configured as The analytical system further includes a pipette unit as described above.</p><p> The present invention therefore also relates to a method of measuring at least one sample parameter of a sample contained in a sample tube using this analytical system. This method involves opening the tubing by removing the tubing from the closure at the cap removal station, measuring at least one sample parameter with an analytical unit, and re-doing the tubing with the same closure at the recap station. Includes a closing process.</p><p> The same analytical unit, of course, even if configured to measure at least one sample parameter without the need to open the tube, for example before cap removal and / or after recap, especially when an optical detector is used. Good.</p><p> The present invention also relates to a system for processing a sample tube containing a biological sample. The system includes multiple work cells for processing the sample and optionally at least one transfer unit for transferring the sample tube from one work cell to at least another work cell. The system also provides a pipette system corresponding to at least one work cell to withdraw a certain amount of sample from the sample tube for processing by the work cell or to dispense a certain amount of liquid into the sample tube. Includes. The pipette system is a cap that removes the closure member from the sample tube and recloses the sample tube before being transferred to another work cell when the sample needs to be withdrawn or the liquid needs to be dispensed. Includes removal / recap device.</p><p> Independent, assisting the user in detection, such as qualitative and / or quantitative evaluation of a sample for diagnostic purposes, or classification and / or preparation of a sample before detection, or storage and / or disposal of a sample after detection. A type of device, or a module in a larger device. In particular, the work cell can be associated with the process of processing the sample before and / or after analysis and / or after analysis. The work cells may be connected to each other and at least partially dependent on each other, for example, each performing a specified task in the sample processing workflow that is a prerequisite before proceeding to the next work cell. Good. The work cells may also function independently of each other, eg, each may perform separate tasks, eg, the same sample may be subjected to different types of analysis.</p><p> An analytical work cell is a stand-alone device or a module in a larger instrument that assists in the detection of a user, for example, qualitative and / or quantitative evaluation of a sample for diagnostic purposes. This may include steps and detection systems whose workflow is optimized for a particular type of analysis. Examples of such work cells are clinical chemistry analyzers, agglutination chemistry analyzers, immunochemical analyzers used to detect the results of chemical or biological reactions or to monitor the progress of chemical or biological reactions. , A urine analyzer. Analytical work cells may include units that assist in pipetting, administration, and mixing of samples and / or reagents. The work cell may also include a reagent holding unit for holding the reagent to be assayed. Reagents may be placed in the form of containers or cassettes containing individual or groups of reagents that are placed in the appropriate receiving area or location within the storage compartment or conveyor. It may include a reaction vessel or a cuvette supply unit. Among other things, it may include one or more liquid processing units, such as a pipette unit, to carry the samples and / or reagents to the reaction vessel. The pipette unit may include a reusable washable needle such as a steel needle or a disposable pipette tip. The work cell may further include one or more mixing units containing a shaker for shaking the cuvette containing the liquid and a mixing paddle for mixing the liquid in the cuvette or reagent vessel. Good.</p><p> A pre-analytical work cell is a module in a stand-alone device or larger instrument that assists the user in storing and / or preparing a sample before it is processed by the analytical work cell. This includes, for example, a reclassification unit that classifies samples according to analysis type and / or analysis priority, a centrifuge for applying centrifugal force to the sample tube, and a pipette unit that separates the sample from the sample tube. It may include one or more of a unit, a heat treatment unit that exposes the sample to a specific temperature, and a separation unit that separates the sample components.</p><p> A post-analytical work cell is a module in a stand-alone device or larger instrument that assists the user in storing and / or preparing a sample after it has been processed by the analytical work cell. This may include, for example, a reclassification unit that reclassifies sample tubes into, for example, different storage racks and / or refrigeration compartments.</p><p> Generally, a work cell attaches and / or removes a sample tube or a rack containing a sample tube, and / or attaches and / or removes a unit for transferring and / or stores, and a reagent container or a reagent cassette. / Or includes a unit for transfer and / or storage and a unit for attaching and / or removing a reaction vessel such as a cuvette and / or for transfer and / or storage and / or cleaning. You may. The reaction vessel may be disposable, i.e. single-use, or reusable, i.e. configured to be washed and reused. It may also include an identification unit that includes a sensor such as a barcode or RFID reader. The work cell also includes one or more thermal insulation units to keep the sample / reagent mixture at a specific temperature during the reaction, a washing station to wash pipette tips or needles, mixed paddles, etc. May be good.</p><p> Each work cell may be designed to process a fixed number of samples or sample tubes per time unit, and this number may vary, so the system has an advantage in the number of closure member holders, and / Alternatively, the number of actuators and / or the number of tube grippers and / or the number of pipette units can be set to fit the throughput of each work cell.</p><p> Also, each work cell can preferably be designed to process either sample tubes on a single carrier or sample tubes on racks carrying multiple tubes, so each cap removal / recap device. Can advantageously be configured to process sample tubes that are transferred to either a single tube carrier and / or a rack that carries multiple sample tubes.</p><p> According to one embodiment, the system includes a transfer unit that automatically transfers a sample tube from one work cell to another. The transfer unit may be configured to transfer a single carrier and / or tube rack. The transfer unit may include, for example, one or more transfer lines arranged as, for example, transfer bands or guide rails. In particular, the transfer unit may be connected to a tube conveyor of various cap removal / recap devices, for example an extension thereof. By transporting the right sample to the right work cell at the right time, not necessarily continuous, according to needs or priorities and / or the type of tubing or tubing carrier, a particular work cell can be accessed by a random access method. Bypass lines and / or junctions may be present so that they can be accessed. The transfer unit may optionally include a set of autonomous robot carriers with random access to any work cell.</p><p> Alternatively, the sample tube and / or tube carrier may be manually transferred from one work cell to another by the user.</p><p> Other and additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be illustrated by the following description and accompanying drawings which describe exemplary embodiments and contribute to a more detailed description of the principles of the invention.</p>

<figref num="1a">FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pipette system including a cap removal / recap device according to one embodiment.</figref><figref num="1b">It is an enlarged view of the cap removal / recap device shown in FIG. 1a where some parts have been removed for clarity.</figref><figref num="2a">Shows one of the plurality of closing member holding portions described in FIGS. 1a and 1b.</figref><figref num="2b">The closure member holder in Figure 2a is shown with a portion of the housing removed so that the internal components can be seen.</figref><figref num="2c">It gives a further understanding of the working principle of the closing member holders in Figures 2a and 2b.</figref><figref num="2d">The bottom view of the closing member holding part of FIG. 2a is shown.</figref><figref num="3">Shown is an actuator in which some parts have been removed to show some internal components.</figref><figref num="4a">A rotary rack-shaped rotor carrying a plurality of closing member holders as described in FIGS. 1a and 1b is shown.</figref><figref num="4b">A partial cut view of the rotating rack of FIG. 4a is shown.</figref><figref num="5">Top view of the system in Figure 1a with some parts removed for clarity.</figref><figref num="6a">Top perspective view showing how the actuator and passive closure gripper are engaged (some parts have been removed for clarity).</figref><figref num="6b">Bottom perspective showing how the actuator and passive closure gripper are engaged (some parts have been removed for clarity).</figref><figref num="6c">Shown are the actuator passive closure grippers of FIGS. 6a and 6b engaged (some members have been removed for clarity).</figref><figref num="7">The tube gripper is shown in more detail.</figref><figref num="8a">It is a perspective view of the cap removal / recap device according to another embodiment.</figref><figref num="8b">Figure 8a shows a pipette system that includes a cap removal / recap device.</figref><figref num="8c">The same pipette system as in Figure 8b is shown from a different perspective.</figref><figref num="8d">A top view of the same pipette system as in Figures 8b and 8c is shown.</figref><figref num="9">The top view of the cap removal / recap device according to another embodiment is shown.</figref><figref num="10">A system for processing a sample tube containing multiple work cells and multiple pipette systems is shown schematically.</figref>

FIG. 1a shows a pipette system 200 that draws a certain amount of sample from sample tube 12 and / or dispenses a certain amount of liquid into sample tube 12 according to one embodiment. This pipette unit 200 is identical to remove the different type 11', 11 "closing member 11 from the variable type 12', 12" sample tube 12 and with the same respective closing member 11', 11 ". Includes a cap removal / recap device 100 (as clearly shown in Figure 1b) to reclose pipettes 12', 12'. The cap removal / recap device 100 includes six separate closure holders 20 symmetrically arranged in a rotatable rotary rack 61, each configured to receive one closure holder 20. Has a corresponding number of arms 62. Each closing member holding portion includes a passive closing member gripper 21 that holds the closing member 11. The device 100 further includes three actuators 40, specifically a cap removal actuator 40'that activates the passive closure gripper 21 when the closure member 11 is removed from the tube 12, and their respective closure members 11. A recap actuator 40'that uses the recap actuator 40'to reclose the pipe 12 and a waste actuator 40' that finally releases the closing member 11 to the disposal compartment (not shown). The device 100 further includes two tube grippers 50, in particular this includes a fixed cap removal station, where the cap removal side tube gripper 50'is the cap removal actuator 40. Alongside', when removing the closure member 11, it works with the cap removal actuator 40'to bias the tube 12 and its closure member 11 away from each other, and the device 100 is further fixed. Includes a recap station, where the recap side tube gripper 50 "is aligned with the recap actuator 40" and biases the tube 12 and its closing member 11 towards each other when the tube 12 is reclosed. To work with the recap actuator 40 . The cap removal actuator 40'is connected to the passive closing member gripper 21 of the closing member holding portion 20 when the closing member 11 must be removed from the pipe 12. The recap actuator 40 "is coupled to the passive closure gripper 21 of the closure holder 20 when the tube 12 must be reclosed using its respective closure member 11. Disposal actuator 40'" Is connected to the passive closing member gripper 21 of the closing member holding portion 20 when the closing member must be discarded. The actuator 40 is disconnected from the passive closing member gripper 21 when the closing member holding portion 20 holds the closing member 11.

The pipette system 200 further removes a certain amount of sample from the open sample tube or a certain amount of liquid in the time frame between the opening of the tube 12 and the reclosing of the tube 12 using the same closure member 11. Includes a pipette unit 150 synchronized with the cap removal / recap device 100 for dispensing to sample tube 12.

2a to 2d show in more detail the structure of the closing member holding portion 20 and the operating mechanism of the passive closing member gripper 21 according to the embodiment. In particular, FIG. 2a shows the closing member holding portion 20 from the outside. FIG. 2b shows the inside of the passive closure member gripper 21 in the passive state. FIG. 2c shows the inside of the passive closure member gripper 21 when activated. FIG. 2d shows a bottom view of the closing member holding portion 20 in the passive state. The closing member holding portion 20 has a symmetrical structure including an upper connecting portion 22 connected to the actuator 40 and a lower cylindrical portion 23 including a cavity 36 for receiving the closing member 11 (the closing member is not shown). Have. The passive closure gripper 21 includes three cantilever arms 28 that are pivotable around a horizontal fulcrum element 38, which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical central axis 37 of the closure holder 20. There is. Each cantilever arm 28 includes a jaw 27 attached to the lower end and a wheel 30 attached to the upper end. The cantilever spring 29 is also attached to one side of each cantilever arm 28 to exert a force on the lower end of the cantilever arm 28, etc. Therefore, the jaw 27 is the lower portion of the closing member holding portion 20 in the absence of other force. Pushed toward the outside of 23. The passive closure member gripper 21 further includes a passive element 31 and a coil spring 32, including a pretension member arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis 37. The passive element 31 is provided with a pin protruding outward from the connecting portion 22 of the closing member holding portion 20 along the shaft 37, a contact surface with the coil spring 32 on the bottom surface thereof, and a contact surface with the wheel 30 on the side surface thereof. Includes a side cone. The force exerted by the coil spring 32 on the passive element 31, that is, the force subsequently exerted by the passive element 31 on the three cantilever arms 28, is greater than the sum of the forces exerted by the three cantilever springs 29 on the three cantilever arms 28. .. Therefore, the force of the coil spring 32 is that of the passive element 31. Used for upward extrusion and outward extrusion of cantilever arm wheeled ends, i.e., the jawed ends of the cantilever arm 28 are the forces of the cantilever spring 29 that tend to push them outward. Pushed inward against (Fig. 2b). Each jaw 27 includes two surfaces facing the inner surface of the closing member holding portion 20 and forms an angle of 120 °. The three jaws 27 therefore form a regular geometric gripping surface (FIG. 2d), allowing for more efficient gripping and preventing asymmetric deformation of the closure member 11. In addition, each jaw 27 includes a continuous conical protrusion 35, which is for better grip, i.e. during cap removal, recapping or holding of the closure member 11 even with reduced contact points. It acts as a friction surface to prevent sliding and misplacement. When the closing member 11 (not shown in FIGS. 2a-2d) is positioned between the jaws 27, the pressure applied symmetrically to the outer side surface of the closing member 11 is passively held in place by the closing member 11. To the extent that In addition, each jaw 27 can be pivoted around the horizontal jaw axis 38', so that the angle can be varied with respect to the vertical central axis 37 of the closure member holder. This makes it possible to adapt the jaws to different inclinations of the sides of the closing member 11 without losing the gripping surface and gripping force. It acts as a friction surface to prevent sliding or misplacement during cap removal, recapping or holding of the closing member 11 even if the contact points are reduced. When the closing member 11 (not shown in FIGS. 2a-2d) is positioned between the jaws 27, the pressure applied symmetrically to the outer side surface of the closing member 11 is passively held in place by the closing member 11. To the extent that In addition, each jaw 27 can be pivoted around the horizontal jaw axis 38', so that the angle can be varied with respect to the vertical central axis 37 of the closure member holder. This makes it possible to adapt the jaws to different inclinations of the sides of the closing member 11 without losing the gripping surface and gripping force. It acts as a friction surface to prevent sliding or misplacement during cap removal, recapping or holding of the closing member 11 even if the contact points are reduced. When the closing member 11 (not shown in FIGS. 2a-2d) is positioned between the jaws 27, the pressure applied symmetrically to the outer side surface of the closing member 11 is passively held in place by the closing member 11. To the extent that In addition, each jaw 27 can be pivoted around the horizontal jaw axis 38', so that the angle can be varied with respect to the vertical central axis 37 of the closure member holder. This makes it possible to adapt the jaws to different inclinations of the sides of the closing member 11 without losing the gripping surface and gripping force.

When connected to the actuator 40 (not shown in FIGS. 2a-2d), an external force is applied to the passive element 31, which is greater than the force of the coil spring 32. The passive element 31 is therefore pushed down to disengage the wheel portion of the cantilever arm 28. The only force acting on the cantilever arm 28 is the force of the cantilever spring 29 at this point, which pushes the jaw-formed end of the cantilever arm 28 outward (Fig. 2c), thus pushing the jaw 27. The pressure is released from the closing member 11 in the meantime, or a new closing member 11 is inserted between the opening jaws 27 before the jaw 27 is closed again. The lower portion 23 of the closing member holding portion 20 includes an opening 39 corresponding to each cantilever arm 28, through which the jaw-formed end of the cantilever arm 28 is of open or larger diameter. It can be expanded when accommodating the closing member 11.

The closing member holding portion 20 further comprises an elastic member, i.e., a passive closing member pushing element 33 with a second coil spring 34, which vertically closes when the passive pressure of the jaw 27 is released. This is to exert a pushing force to 11. The extrusion element 33 is shown in its relaxed position in FIG. 2b and in a tensioned position in FIG. 2c for illustration purposes. The elastic force of the elastic member is selected to be weaker than the elastic force of the pretension member. In this way, when the closing member 11 is inserted between the gripping means, that is, when the closing member 11 is inserted between the gripping means by lifting the closed sample tube 12 toward the closing member holding portion 20, it is extruded. The element 33 is pushed upward by the closing member 11, and the second coil spring 34 is tensioned. Therefore, as long as the closing member 11 remains firmly seated between the jaws 27, the extrusion element 33 is restricted to exerting pressure only on the top surface of the closing member 11 during the holding period. If the closing member 11 must be discarded, the extrusion element 33 exerts a pushing impact on the closing member 11, which contributes to releasing the closing member 11 downward from the closing member holding portion 20 when the jaw 27 is opened. To do. The extrusion element 33 also has a bottom that prevents the asymmetric deformation and / or tilt of the closure member 11'when the jaw 27 applies pressure to its sides and thus acts as a stabilizer for the closure member 11'. Designed to fit the concave top surface of certain types of closure members 11'.

Figure 3 shows actuators 40, such as the cap removal actuator 40'and the recap actuator 40', with some parts cut for illustration. Actuators 40, 40', 40' and passive closure grippers. Actuators 40, 40', 40 "include actuating bolts 41 connected to the spindle motor 46 to exert pressure on the passive element 31 of the passive closure gripper 21 when the 21 are connected. The force applied by the actuating bolt 41 is greater than the force of the first coil spring 32. Therefore, the actuating bolt 41 acting on the passive element 31 indirectly receives each time the closing member 11 needs to be gripped or released. Actuators 40, 40', 40 "have the function of opening the jaws 27. Actuators 40, 40', 40" further include a closing member gripper driving means including a connecting disk 43 connected to the DC stepping motor 47 via a drive belt 44, which closes. This is to rotate the member holding portion 20 around the shaft 37. The engagement between the connecting disk 43 and the connecting portion 22 of the closing member device 20 will be further clarified below with reference to FIGS. 6a-6c.

In the case of the scrap actuator 40'(shown in FIG. 1b), it is usually not necessary to rotate the passive closing member gripper 21 but only to release the pressure applied to the closing member 11 by opening the jaw 27. Therefore, the scrap actuator 40'"includes the actuating bolt 41, but does not include the closure member gripper drive means for rotating the passive closure member gripper 21.

FIGS. 4a and 4b relate to the closing member holding unit driving means 60. The closing member holder drive means 60 includes a rotating rack 61 including six arms 62, each of which is configured to carry one of the six closing member holdings 20, as described in FIGS. 1a and 1b. There is. The rotary rack 61 is mounted on a rotor 63, which is connected to the DC stepper motor 65 via a belt 66 so that it rotates around a shaft 67, which is continuously attached to the closing member holding portion 20 of the actuator 40. This is to provide a concatenated connection with either. The closing member holding portion driving means 60 further determines the initial correct position and controls the rotation angle in order to facilitate proper alignment for each rotation between the actuator 40 and the closing member holding portion 20, for example. Includes a position sensor to assist in monitoring.

FIG. 4b is a partial cut view of the rotating rack 61 of FIG. 4a, showing how the closing member holding portion 20 is attached to the arm 62 of the rotating rack 61. In particular, the disc 69 is concentrically fixed around the connecting portion 22 of the closing member holding portion 20. The disc 69 includes a disc 69 in which the lower portion 23 of the closing member holding portion 20 extends below the arm 62 and the connecting portion 22 of the closing member holding portion 20 partially extends above the arm 62. The entire closing member holding portion 20 is clamped within the chamber 64 of the arm 62 so that it can rotate about the axis 37 with respect to the chamber 64.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the system 200 of FIG. 1a, with some components removed for clarity. Although the actuator 40 is fixed, the rotary rack 61 can rotate counterclockwise. The six closure member holders 20, each numbered 1-6, are symmetrically located at 60 ° intervals at a predetermined distance from the center of the rotor 63, which distance is measured from the center of the rotor 63. It corresponds to the distance of the actuating bolt 41 of the actuator 40. Actuators 40 are also relative to each other so that the passive closure gripper 21 can be connected to either actuator 40 during normal processes, in this case 60 ° or multiple rotations of 60 ° of the rotor 63. Have been placed. The apparatus 100 further includes a tube conveyor, in this case a linear conveyor 90 configured to transfer a tube rack 91 each carrying up to five sample tubes 12. The distance between the cap removal actuator 40'and the recap actuator 40'is the distance between the centers of the six tubes 12, that is, the distance between the two tubes 12 occupying the same positions on two adjacent racks 91. In this way, the two tubes 12 may be aligned with the two closure member holders 20 and the two actuators 40 at the same time. The conveyor 90 may have a new tube 12 and a new closure. The member holder 20 is synchronized with the rotor 63 to advance the rack 91 step by step so that it is simultaneously aligned with the same actuator 40, in this case either the cap removal actuator 40'or the recap actuator 40'. There is. The cap removal side tube gripper 50'and the recap side tube gripper 50'are also aligned with the cap removal actuator 40'and the recap actuator 40', respectively. In particular, the cap removal side tube gripper 50'is synchronized with the conveyor 90 to lift the tube 12 and connect the free closure member holder 20 with the rotor 63 to the cap removal actuator 40', for example. This is to remove the closing member 11 from the pipe 12 at that position and at that time. The recap side pipe gripper 50 "lifts the pipe 12 and connects, together with the rotor 63, the closing member holding portion 20 holding the closing member 11 already removed from the same pipe 12 with the recap actuator 40". Synchronized with the conveyor 90 for, for example, to reclose pipe 12 at that location and at that time.

One possible workflow of the cap removal / recap device 100 according to this embodiment is summarized in the following examples.

At the start, all six closing member holders 20 are free. The device 100 is initialized via a position sensor 68 (not shown in FIG. 5), and the closing member holding portions 20, for example, the closing member holding portions 20, 1 are aligned with the cap removing actuator 40'. The conveyor 90 is then aligned so that the first tube 12 on the first rack 91 is aligned with the cap removal actuator 40'and hence the closure member holders 20, 1 and the cap removal side tube gripper 50'. , Instructed to move the rack 91 forward. The cap removal actuator 40'is connected to the passive closing member gripper 21 of the closing member holding portions 20, 1 and the actuating bolt 41 applies a force to the passive element 31 to open the jaw 27. The cap removal side tube gripper 50'is instructed to lift the tube 12 until the closing member 11 is at a height between the open jaws 27. To determine this height, measurements made by sensors (not shown) that determine the type of pipe 12 and / or closure member 11 during the advancement of the rack 91 are taken into account. Joe 27 is then closed by releasing pressure with an actuating bolt 41. The cap removal actuator 40'is then instructed to rotate the connecting disc 53 to rotate the passive closure gripper 21 while the cap removal side tube gripper 50'pulls the tube 12 down onto the rack. The closing member 11 is removed from the pipe 12 via the passive closing member gripper 21 of the closing member holding portions 20, 1 in cooperation with the cap removing actuator 40'.

The rack 91 is then advanced to another position so that the next tube 12 is aligned with the cap removal actuator 40'and the cap removal side tube gripper 50'. At the same time, the next closing member holding portions 20 and 6 are aligned with the cap removing actuator 40'by rotating the rotor 63 counterclockwise by 60 °, and the process is repeated. Therefore, the closing member holding portions 20, 1 are also moved 60 ° counterclockwise, but passively holding the closing member 11 removed from the first pipe 12, and the closing member holding portions 20, 1 are no longer present. Not connected to any actuator 40.

When this process is performed 5 times, 5 pipes 12 are opened, and each closing member is once by the respective closing member holding portions 20,1, 20,2, 20,3, 20,4,20,5. It is transferred one step at a time in the counterclockwise direction by 60 °. When the closing member holding portions 20, 6 are aligned with the cap removing actuator 40', the closing member holding portions 20, 1 holding the first closing member 11 are aligned with the recap actuator 40'. At the same time, the sixth tube 12, the first tube on the second rack, is aligned with the cap removal side tube gripper 50'and the cap removal actuator 40', while on the first open first rack 91. The first tube 12 of the is aligned with the recap side tube gripper 50 "and the recap actuator 40" to hold the corresponding closing member 11, i.e. the same closing member 11 removed from the same tube 12. It is aligned with the closing member holding portion 20.

From this point on, the cap removal station 70 and the recap station 80 operate in the same time frame, respectively, performing the cap removal and recap tasks respectively. In particular, almost the same steps as performed at cap removal station 70 occur at recap station 80, but in reverse order. Specifically, at the recap station 80, the recap actuator 40 "is instructed to rotate the connecting disc 43 in order to rotate the passive closure member gripper 21 in the opposite direction, while the recap side tube gripper. The 50'is instructed to lift the tubing 12 upwards towards the closure member 11 using the same information about the tubing type already obtained, thereby working with the cap removal actuator 40'. The pipe 12 is reclosed using the same closing member 11 via the passive closing member gripper 21 of the closing member holding portions 20, 1. It should be noted that the angular position of the closing member 11 with respect to the pipe 12 is It is different for each of the cap removal station 70 and the recap station, due to the fact that the tube 12 is linearly transferred from the cap removal station 70 to the recap station 80 without rotation. On the other hand, the closing member holding part 20, 1 is transferred from the cap removal station 70 to the recap station 80 using the 300 ° rotation of the rotor 63. Therefore, in the angular position of the closing member 11 with respect to the pipe 12, the recap station 80 has a difference of -60 ° as compared with the cap removal station 70. This difference can affect the proper closure of the pipe 12, especially if the closure member 11 is threaded. To take this difference into account, the recap actuator 40 "is instructed to rotate the connecting disk 43 to rotate the passive closure gripper 21 an additional 60 °. The actuating bolt 41 is then passive. As the force is applied to the element 31, the jaw 27 is opened and the recap side tube gripper 50 is instructed to lower the tube 12 onto the rack 91. The recap actuator 40 is therefore separated from the closing member holdings 20,1 and the closing member holdings 20,1 are freed again and returned to the cap removal station 70 to accept the new closing member and start a new cycle. ..

The pipette unit 150 dispenses a certain amount of sample and / or dispenses a certain amount of liquid in the time frame between the opening of the tube 12 and the reclosing of the tube 12 using the same closure member 11. Therefore, it is synchronized with the cap removal / recap device 100. In particular, if the tube 12 is in the middle position between the cap removal station 70 and the recap station 80, the cap removal station 70 and / or the recap station 80 is operating with each of the other tubes, and , The pipette unit 150 is temporarily lowered so that the needle (not shown in FIG. 5) is inserted into the sample through the open end of the tube 12 during the non-rotating time frame of the rotor 63. .. Optionally, a pipette tube gripper (not shown) may be used to lift the open tube 12, which facilitates pipette operation by reducing the travel distance of the pipette unit 150.

FIGS. 6a and 6b are perspective views of how the actuator 40, especially the cap removal actuator 40'and the recap actuator 40', are engaged with the passive closure gripper 21 from the top and bottom respectively (top and bottom). Some parts have been removed for clarity).

Specifically, the connecting portion 23 of the closing member holding portion 20 includes two pins 26 located on the opposite side of the passive element 31 arranged in the center, and the passive element 31 has two pins. It is located off the line connecting 26. As a result, when the closing member holding portion 20 is attached to the arm 62 of the rotating rack 61, the passive element 31 and the two pins 26 have a radius of the distance between the center of the passive element 31 and the center of the rotor 63. It is on a virtual circle. The connecting disk 43 includes a groove 45 on its bottom surface that is wide and deep enough to accommodate the pin 26 and the passive element 31. The groove 45 is the curvature of a virtual circle whose radius is the distance between the center of the working bolt 41 and the center of the rotor 63 so that the pin 26 and the passive element 31 can smoothly pass through when the rotating rack 61 is rotated. Has a corresponding curvature. Engagement is complete when the passive element 31 and the actuating bolt 41 are aligned, and the actuating bolt 41 can expand and contract through a hole in the center of the groove 45.

Each arm 62 includes an alignment means, in this case a magnet 27 for attracting a ferromagnetic element 28 located on one of the sides of the coupling 23 of each closing member holding portion 20. In particular, each magnet 27 and each ferromagnetic element 28 rotates about the axis 37 of the closure member element 20 due to the magnetic force exerted on the ferromagnetic element 28 by the magnet 27 when the closure member holding portion 20 is removed from the actuator 40. Is prevented, and is arranged so that the same angular position of the closing member holding portion 20 with respect to each arm 62 is maintained during the rotation of the rotor 63. In particular, each magnet 27 and each ferromagnetic element 28 is arranged such that the pin 26 of the closing member holding portion 20 is aligned with the groove 45 when the closing member holding portion 20 must be connected to the actuator 40. .. When the closing member holding portion 20 is connected to the cap removing actuator 40'or the recap actuator 40', the connecting disk 43 applies a rotational force acting on the pin 26 through the groove 45 to the closing member holding portion 20. Causes rotation of the closing member holding portion 20 around the axis 37 because it is greater than the magnetic force described above.

Figure 6c shows the actuator 40 already engaged and the passive closure gripper 21 (some parts have been removed for clarity). In detail, FIG. 6c shows the pin 26 and the passive element 31 in the groove 45, where the working bolt 41 is aligned with the passive element 31. Also, since the actuating bolt 41 is shown with a force applied to the passive element 31, a first connection is established between the actuator 40 and the passive closure member gripper 21. When the connecting disk 43 is rotated, the rotational force is also applied to the closing member holding portion 20, so that a second connecting connection is established. Therefore, the coupling connection exists only when the force is transmitted from the actuator 40 to the closing member holding portion 20 or the passive closing member gripper 21. The closing member holding portion 20 may be engaged with, that is, aligned with, the actuator 40 in a state where the closing member holding portion 20 is not connected if it is not necessary. This is the case, for example, when a scrap actuator 40'"is used. Further, the engagement with the scrap actuator 40'" includes only the alignment of the actuating bolt 41 and the passive element 31. Also, the connection only includes the transmission of force from the actuating bolt 41 to the passive element 31.

FIG. 7 shows the tube gripper 50 in more detail. The tube gripper 50 is a first tube containing two upper tube gripping jaws 51', 51 "attached to two respective first tube gripping arms 55'and 55" that can be biased against each other. Includes gripping means 51. The tube gripper 50 is further attached to each of the two second tube gripping arms 54'and 54', which can be biased against each other and in the same direction as the upper tube gripping jaws 51', 51'. Includes a second tube gripping means 52, including two lower tube gripping jaws 52', 52 ", and the first tube gripping arms 55', 55" become the second tube gripping arms 54', 54 ". They are attached to each and can bias the second tube gripping arms 54', 54 "via the elastic device 53. The upper tube gripping jaws 51', 51 "and the lower tube gripping jaws 52'and 52" each include a gripping surface for gripping the tube from the opposite surface. The upper tube gripping jaws 51', 51 "are longer than the lower tube gripping jaws 52' and 52", and the gripping surfaces of the upper tube gripping jaws 51', 51 "are the lower tube gripping jaws 52' and 52". Smaller than the gripping surface. The tube gripper 50 further includes a first DC stepper motor 56 connected to the second tube gripping arms 54'and 54' via a spundle spring 57 to bias the second gripping arms 54'and 54'. Therefore, the lower tube gripping jaws 52'and 52 "are biased towards each other when gripping the tube 12, and they are biased away from each other when releasing the tube 12. First tube. Since the gripping arms 55'and 55 "are attached to the second tube gripping arms 54'and 54", they are also biased accordingly. The tube gripper 50 further attaches the second tube gripping arms 54'and 54 ". Includes a second DC stepper motor 58 that raises and lowers with the first tube gripping arms 55'and 55 ". The upper tube gripping jaws 51'and 51" are on the lower side. The tube gripper 50 can be biased against each other via the elastic device 53, longer than the tube gripping jaws 52'and 52', so that the tube gripper 50 is routed through the motors 56 and 58 to the lower tube gripping jaws 52'and The upper tube gripping jaws 51'and 51 "have a force and contact surface greater than the upper tube gripping jaws 51'and 51", respectively, before the 52 "can grip and hold the tube firmly. The tubing may be set to grab and lift the tubing from the tubing carrier. Similarly, the tube gripper 50 allows the lower tube gripping jaws 52'and 52 "to release the tube before the upper tube gripping jaws 51' and 51" when lowering the tube and returning it to the tube carrier. It may be set.

FIG. 8a shows a perspective view of the cap removal / recap device 300 according to another embodiment. The difference from the cap removal / recap device 100 of FIGS. 1b and 5 is that it is preferably designed to operate with a single tube carrier 391 transferred by conveyor 390. Specifically, the cap removal / recap device 300 relocates to the recap station 380 with a fixed cap removal actuator 340'and cap removal side tube grippers 350, 350'located at the cap removal station 370. Cap actuator 340 "and recap side tube grippers 350, 350" and disposal actuator 340'located at disposal station 385 And a waste well 384 aligned with the disposal compartment (not shown). The three closure holders 20 are symmetrical to each of the three arms 362 of the rotating rack 361 at 120 ° intervals. Arranged, the rotating rack 361 can rotate counterclockwise through the rotor 363. The cap removal station 370, recap station 380 and disposal station 385 are normal processes of 120 ° or multiples of 120 °. Arranged relative to each other so that the passive closure gripper 21 and any actuator 340 can be connected to each other as the rotor 363 rotates. The device 300 is further a tube conveyor, in this case each single. Includes a linear conveyor 390 configured to transfer packs 391 carrying tubes 12 of the. The distance between the cap removal station 370 and the recap station 380 is continuous carried by each pack 391 adjacent to each other. Corresponds to the distance between the center of the first tube and the center of the third tube in the three tubes 12 that form. Thus, the two tubes 12 have two closure member holders 20 and 2. The two actuators 340', 340'can be aligned at the same time. The workflow of this embodiment is the same as that of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5, except that one cycle is completed for every three tubes instead of six and the rotation step is 120 ° instead of 60 °. It's similar.

FIG. 8b shows a pipette system 400 including the cap removal / recap device 300 of FIG. 8a. The pipette system 400 further provides a time frame from the opening of the tube 12 to the reclosing of the tube 12 using the same closure member 11 to withdraw a certain amount of sample and / or to dispense a certain amount of liquid. Includes a pipette unit 250 synchronized with a cap removal / recap device 300.

Among other things, the tube 12 is in the middle position between the cap removal station 370 and the recap station 380, and within the time frame when the cap removal station 370 and / or the recap station 380 is operating with each of the other tubes. Also, the pipette unit 250 is temporarily lowered so that the needle 251 is placed in the sample through the open end of the tube 12 when the rotor 63 is not rotating. Optionally, a pipette tube gripper (not shown) may be used to lift the open tube 12, which pipettes by reducing the distance traveled by the pipette unit 250 and / or the pipette needle 251. To facilitate.

FIG. 8c shows the same pipette system 400 as FIG. 8b from another side. In particular, the disposal station 385 is shown in more detail, which includes a disposal well 384 that guides the closure member into the disposal compartment (not shown).

FIG. 8d shows a top view of the same pipette system 400 as FIGS. 8b and 8c to better understand the difference from the device of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a more schematic top view of the cap removal / recap device 500 according to another embodiment operating with the tube rack 91. The difference from the above embodiment is that the rotary rack 561 has a ring shape and accommodates a larger number, in this case 20 closure member holders 20. In addition, only the cap removal station 570 and the recap station 580 are shown, which are located in the exact opposite of the rotating rack 561. In this case, one cycle is completed for every 11 tubes 12. Also, to facilitate pipette operation by lifting one of the tubes 12 that is open as the tube 12 passes through that position and reducing the travel distance of the pipette unit (not shown), the pipette tube gripper 550 It can also be shown that the'"is centered on the device 500.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates just one example of System 900 for processing sample tubes. This system 900 includes a plurality of work cells 901 to 909. In particular, the system 900 includes pre-analytical work cells 901, post-analytical work cells 909, preferably a plurality of analytical works cells 902-906 configured to process sample tubes with a single carrier, and preferably tubes. Includes two analytical work cells 907, 908 configured to process sample tubes in a rack. System 900 further includes a transfer unit 920 configured to transfer both sample tubes on a single carrier and on a tube rack from one work cell to any other work cell as needed. .. System 900 also includes pipette systems 911-918 corresponding to each work cell 901-908 to withdraw a certain amount of sample from the sample tube for processing by work cells 901-908. Pipette systems 911-918 remove the closure from the sample tube when the sample needs to be withdrawn, and reclose the sample tube before it is transferred to another work cell 901-909 by the transfer unit 920. Includes a cap removal / recap device.

The above is merely an example of a preferred embodiment, the modification of which is possible according to specific needs without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the cap removal / recap device may be designed to work with both a single tubing carrier and tubing rack, and the tubing rack may be configured to carry a different number of tubing. Also, different combinations of closure member holders and actuators, as well as different arrangements, may be considered. In particular, different coupling mechanisms can be considered.