Abstract
A sample rack that has at least one axially extended receptacle for a sample tube (30). The sample rack has a code arrangement on its outside. This code arrangement contains information regarding the position of the at least one receptacle as well as information regarding the total number of receptacles and/or the dimension of the sample rack. A sample carrier system (1) is further provided that has a sample carrier with at least one sample rack receptacle and a set of sample racks. The sample rack receptacle and the sample racks have interacting mechanisms which characterize their affiliation.
Claims
1. Sample rack (20), comprising at least one axially extended receptacle (21) for a sample tube (30) and a code arrangement (100) arranged on the outside of the sample rack (20), wherein the code arrangement (100) comprises information regarding the position of the at least one receptacle (21) as well as information regarding the total number of receptacles (21) and/or the dimension of the sample rack (20).
2. Sample rack (20) according to claim 1, wherein the code arrangement (100) comprises a code (120) associated with a receptacle (21) and comprising information regarding the position of said one receptacle (21).
3. Sample rack (20) according to claim 1, wherein the code arrangement (100) comprises a code (120) comprising information regarding the position of a plurality of receptacles (21), in particular information regarding the position of the plurality of receptacles (21) relative to the position of this code (120).
4. Sample rack (20) according to claim 1, comprising at least one inspection window (22) which allows the view into at least one receptacle (21).
5. Sample rack (20) according to claim 1, comprising retaining elements (23) for lids (31) of the sample tubes (30), in particular projections (23).
6. Sample rack (20) according to claim 1, comprising a gripping device (24), in particular at least one holding bracket and/or at least one holding tab (24).
7. Sample rack (20) according to claim 6, wherein a part of the gripping device (24) forms a support surface for lids (31) of the sample tubes (30).
8. Sample rack (20) according to claim 1, wherein at least one receptacle (21) comprises an empty code containing information regarding the absence of a sample tube (30) in the receptacle (21).
9. Sample carrier system (1), comprising a sample carrier (10) having at least one sample rack receptacle (11) and a set of sample racks (20), wherein the sample rack receptacle (11) and the sample racks (20) have interacting means which characterize their affiliation.
10. Sample carrier system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the interacting means are interacting mechanical means (15, 25) which are designed such that only certain sample racks (20) of the set can be inserted into the sample carrier (10) in the desired position.
11. Sample carrier system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the interacting means comprise at least one identifier (35) and at least one identifier reader (45), in particular at least one Hall sensor as identifier reader (45) and at least one magnet as identifier (35).
12. Sample carrier system (1) according to claim 9, wherein a specific sample rack (20) from the set is associated only with a specific sample rack receptacle (11).
13. Sample carrier system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the sample carrier (10) comprises at least two sample rack receptacles (11c, 11c) of different dimensions, to which one and the same specific sample rack (20c) from the set is associated.
14. Sample carrier system (1) according to claim 13, wherein the set comprises at least one further sample rack (20d), to which at least one of the two sample rack receptacles (11c, 11d) of different dimensions is associated, and wherein the at least one further sample rack (20d) has in particular a different dimension and/or different total number of receptacles (21) and wherein preferably the position of the receptacles (21) of the different sample racks (20c, 20d) in the same sample rack receptacle (11c, 11d) differs.
15. Sample carrier system (1) according to claim 10, wherein the interaction of the mechanical means (15, 25) is based on the key-lock principle.
16. Sample carrier system (1) according to claim 10, wherein the interacting mechanical means (15, 25) are formed by at least one of the following or a combination thereof: at least one guide groove (251) on a sample rack (20), in particular on its outside, and at least one guide projection (152) on a sample rack receptacle (11), in particular on at least one side delimiting the sample rack receptacle (11); at least one guide projection (252) on a sample rack (20), in particular on its outside, and at least one guide groove (151) on a sample rack receptacle (11), in particular on at least one side delimiting the sample rack receptacle (11); at least one recess on a sample rack (20), in particular on its bottom, and at least one pin on a sample rack receptacle (11), in particular on the bottom thereof; at least one pin on a sample rack (20), in particular on the bottom thereof, and at least one recess on a sample rack receptacle (11), in particular on the bottom thereof.
17. Sample carrier system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the sample carrier (10) comprises at least one temperature control unit (12) which enables heating, cooling and/or maintaining a temperature or a temperature range, in particular at least one line for a cooling fluid and/or at least one Peltier element.
18. Sample carrier system (1) according to claim 9, wherein at least one sample rack receptacle (11) comprises a condensation water drain, in particular a condensation water channel or a conical bottom surface provided with an outlet opening.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0064] Embodiment examples of the present invention are explained in more detail below using figures, wherein:
[0065] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a sample rack (front view);
[0066] FIG. 2. shows an embodiment of a sample rack (rear view);
[0067] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a sample carrier system;
[0068] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the sample carrier system from FIG. 3;
[0069] FIG. 5 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of a sample carrier system;
[0070] FIG. 6 shows a schematic top view of another embodiment of a sample carrier system;
[0071] FIG. 7 shows a schematic top view of another embodiment of a sample carrier system;
[0072] FIG. 8a shows a schematic top view of an additional embodiment of a sample carrier system;
[0073] FIG. 8b shows a schematic top view of two sections of the sample carrier system from FIG. 8a with different sample racks inserted into the sample carrier;
[0074] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a sample rack (rear view); and
[0075] FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of a sample carrier system with identifier reader.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0076] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a sample rack 20 in a front view. The sample rack 20 has a code arrangement 100 with a total of seven codes 120. In addition, the sample rack 20 has the same number of inspection windows 22 and the same number of sample tubes 30 in the sample tube receptacles. The lids 31 of the sample tubes are held in place by retaining elements 23 to prevent accidental snap-back. A support surface is provided behind the projections, on which the lids 21 are placed. In this example, the support surface is combined with the gripping device 24 for easier transport and better gripping of the sample rack 20. The sample rack 20 has a top side 201, a bottom side 202, a front side 203, a back side 204, a right side 205 and a left side 206. A coordinate system is also drawn in, which can be used to describe the position of individual receptacles relative to the position of a code.
[0077] FIG. 2 again shows a rear view of an embodiment of a sample rack 20. In addition to the different sides 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 and 206 of the sample rack already explained in FIG. 1, there are sample tubes 30 and their lids 31, retaining elements 23 and a gripping device 24. Further on, the mechanical means 25 can be seen, which enable the sample rack 20 to be assigned to a sample rack receptacle of a sample carrier (not shown here). The mechanical means 25 of the embodiment example shown here comprise four guide grooves 252 and three guide projections 252 blocking part of the guide grooves. The sample rack 20 can then be guided into the sample carrier (not shown here) via the non-blocked guide groove 252 and a guide projection in the sample rack receptacle of a sample carrier (not shown here), e.g. with a design comparable to the guide projections 251 shown. This only works, however, if the mechanical means 25 of the sample rack and the mechanical means of the sample rack receptacle actually cooperate, e.g. by being formed in an at least partially complementary manner.
[0078] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a sample carrier system 1. The sample carrier system 1 comprises a sample carrier 10 and several sample racks 20. The sample carrier 10 comprises a temperature control unit 12 in the form of cooling fluid connections for a cooling fluid (e.g. water, isopropanol, air, nitrogen, . . . ) and has a total of eight sample rack receptacles 11. Also shown are eight sample racks 20, whereof two of the sample racks 20a, 20b are shown in a state not (yet) inserted into the sample carrier 10. The two sample racks 20a, 20b are essentially identical in construction, but for the sake of clarity not all reference numerals for both sample racks 20a, 20b are shown. The sample rack 20a on the left side of the picture comprises seven receptacles for sample tubes 21. Shown are six sample tubes 20a inserted in the sample rack 20a and one sample tube 30 not (yet) in the sample rack 20a. Furthermore, the sample rack 20a comprises a code arrangement 100 with a total of seven codes 120, i.e. one code 120 per receptacle 21. The otherwise identical sample rack 20b on the right side of the picture has ten receptacles for sample tubes 21. 9 sample tubes 30 are shown, which have been inserted into the sample rack and one sample tube 30 which is not (yet) in the sample rack 20b, on the basis of whose receptacle the position of a receptacle axis 210 is shown. The code arrangement 100 of the sample rack 20b comprises ten codes 120, also one code 120 per receptacle 21. Further marked in the sample rack 20b, but also part of the sample rack 20a, are inspection windows 22, openings 211 of the receptacles for the sample tubes 21, retaining elements 23 and a gripping device 24. A lid 31 and a sample tube code 130 are further exemplarily marked on one of the sample tubes 30.
[0079] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the sample carrier system 1 from FIG. 3, with the sample rack 20b on the left with its total of ten receptacles for sample tubes 30 and the sample rack 20a on the right with its seven receptacles for sample tubes. Clearly visible are the cooling fluid connections of the temperature control unit 12 of the sample carrier 10. Further visible are the mechanical means 25a, 25b of the sample racks 20a, 20b. It is noticeable that these are identically designed and it is therefore possible to insert the smaller sample rack 25a into both the left sample rack receptacle 11b and the right sample rack receptacle 11a. The sample rack 20a is therefore associated with two different sample rack receptacles 11a, 11b.
[0080] FIG. 5 shows a schematic bird's-eye view of an embodiment of a sample carrier system 1, which comprises a sample carrier 10 with a sample rack receptacle 11 and a set of sample racks 200 with two sample racks 20a, 20b of different design. Both sample racks 20a, 20b each have a total of seven receptacles 21 for sample tubes. The sample rack receptacle 11 has a guide projection 152, whereas only one sample rack 20a of the set 200 has a complementary guide groove 251a. The other sample rack 20b cannot be inserted into the sample rack receptable 11 of the sample carrier 10, because its guide groove 251b does not interact in a complementary way (e.g. according to the key-lock principle) with the guide projection 152 of the sample rack receptacle 11. Thus, only the one sample rack 20a belongs to the sample carrier 10 or its one sample rack receptacle 11.
[0081] FIG. 6 shows a schematic top view of another embodiment of a sample carrier system 1. This comprises a sample carrier 10 with two sample rack receptacles 11a, 11b and a set of sample racks 200 identical to the set 200 shown in FIG. 5. The guide projection 152a of the sample rack receptacle 11a is complementary to the guide groove 251a of the sample rack 20a, whereas the guide projection 152b of the sample rack receptacle 11b is complementary to the guide groove 251b of the sample rack 20b. Thus, one sample rack 20a, 20b each from the set 200 is associated with one sample rack receptacle 11a, 11b each of the sample carrier 10.
[0082] FIG. 7 shows a schematic top view of another embodiment of a sample carrier system 1, which comprises a sample carrier 10 with two sample carrier receptacles 11c, 11d of different sizes, which have identically designed guide projections 152c, 152d, and a set of sample racks 200, wherein only one of the sample racks 20c of the set 200 is shown. This sample rack 20c has a guide groove 251c, which is complementary to the guide projections 152c, 152d of the sample rack receptacles 252c, 252d. Thus, the sample rack 20c is associated with two, or in this case even all, sample rack receptacles 11c, 11d of the sample carrier 10. Since it is dimensioned in such a way that it fits into both receptacles 11c, 11d, it can be inserted into one or the other receptacle as required.
[0083] FIG. 8a shows a schematic top view of an additional embodiment of a sample carrier system 1. It comprises a sample carrier 10 with two sample carrier receptacles 11c, 11d of different sizes, which have identically designed guide projections 152c, 152d, and a set of sample racks 200. This set 200 comprises a sample rack 20c with seven receptacles 21c for sample tubes and a sample rack 20d with five receptacles 21d for sample tubes. The guide grooves 251c, 251d of both sample racks 20c, 20d are complementary to the identical guide projections 152c, 152d of the sample rack receptacles 11c, 11d. Due to the different dimensions of the sample rack receptacles 11c, 11d, the sample rack 20c can only be inserted into the sample rack receptacle 11c, despite the complementary mechanical means, whereas the sample rack 20d can be inserted into both sample rack receptacles 11c, 11d.
[0084] FIG. 8b shows a schematic top view of two sections of the sample carrier system 1 from FIG. 8a, once with sample rack 20c inserted into the sample rack receptacle 11c of sample carrier 10 and once with sample rack 20d inserted into the sample rack receptacle 11c of sample carrier 10. If one compares the position of the receptacles 21c (sample rack 20c in sample rack receptacle 11c) with the position of the receptacles 21d (sample rack 20d in sample rack receptacle 11c), one can see that they differ. The receptacles 21c of the sample rack 20c are located at a different position in the sample rack receptacle 11c than the receptacles 21d of the sample rack 20d (see e.g. dashed auxiliary lines). A pipetting robot is thus able to recognize that the wrong sample rack, even if it belongs to the sample rack receptacle, has been inserted into the sample carrier by mistake.
[0085] FIG. 9 shows a rear view of another embodiment of a sample rack 20. This sample rack essentially corresponds to a sample rack as already shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the sample rack 20 differs from the sample rack 20 shown in FIG. 2 in the type of interacting means that characterize the affiliation of the sample rack receptacle and the sample rack. Instead of mechanical means, the sample rack 20 here comprises several, strictly speaking four, identifiers 35 in the form of magnets. The sample rack receptacle of the sample carrier (not shown here), on the other hand, comprises an identifier reader, for example in the form of four Hall sensors.
[0086] FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of a sample carrier system 1, which comprises a sample carrier 10 with two sample rack receptacles 11e, 11f and a set of sample racks 200 with a total of two sample racks 20e, 20f. These are each equipped with three identifiers 35, e.g. in the form of magnets, whose arrangement around or on the sample rack differs for the two sample racks 20e, 20f. Sample rack 20e has, so to speak, a blank space at the fourth position, whereas sample rack 20f has a blank space at the third position. The sample rack receptacles 11e, 11f of sample carrier 10, on the other hand, each have four identifier readers 45, e.g. Hall sensors. These are arranged at comparable positions and are able to recognize at which of the four positions the inserted sample rack has markings 35 and at which not. For example, the sample rack receptacle 11e can be assigned the sample rack 20e with the identifier arrangement 1-1-1-0, whereas the sample rack receptacle 11f is assigned the sample rack 20f with the identifier arrangement 1-1-0-1.
TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals 1 Sample carrier system 10 Sample carriers 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, Sample rack receptacle 11e, 11f 12 Temperature control unit 15 Mechanical means Sample rack receptacle 151, 151a, 151b, 151c, Guide groove 151d Sample rack receptacle 152 Guide projection Sample rack receptacle 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, Sample rack 20e, 20f 200 Set of sample racks 201 Top side of sample rack 202 Bottom side of sample rack 203 Front side of sample rack 204 Back side of sample rack 205 Right side of sample rack 206 Left side of sample rack 21, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, Receptacle for sample tubes 21e, 21f 210 Receptacle axis 211 Receptacle opening 22 Inspection window 23 Retaining element 24 Gripping device 25, 25a, 25b Mechanical means Sample rack 251 Guide groove Sample rack 252, 252a, 252b, 252c, Guide projection 252d Sample rack 100 Code arrangement 120 Code sample rack 30 Sample tubes 31 Lid 130 Sample tube code 35 Identifier 45 Identifier reader
