EQUIPMENT FOR THE TRACEABILITY OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

Abstract

The equipment for the traceability of biological samples placed in cassettes provided with encoded identification data and intended to be stored within baskets, the general shape of which may vary from one basket to another includes at least one container to accommodate at least one basket, at least one apparatus for reading encoded data affixed on cassettes arranged in at least one basket placed in the container, a device for computerized processing of the data read by the apparatus for reading, and a device for identifying the shape of the basket placed in the container.

Claims

1. An equipment item for traceability of biological samples placed in inclusion cassettes provided with identification information comprised of encoded data and stored next to one another in housings arranged within baskets, the general shape of which may vary from one basket to another, said equipment item comprising: at least one container to accommodate at least one basket, at least one apparatus for reading encoded data affixed on cassettes arranged in at least one basket placed in the container, said apparatus being comprised of a bottom, a peripheral wall, an upper wall and with at least one opening for access to at least one inner cavity to accommodate the container and equipped with means for reading encoded data, means for computerized processing of the data read by the reading means, and means for identifying the shape of the basket placed in the container.

2. The equipment item according to claim 1, wherein the container is subdivided into several compartments having different shapes, each configured to receive a basket of a given shape, while the reading apparatus is comprised of a detection means for the presence, or if applicable, the absence of a basket in at least one of said compartments of said container and to send the corresponding information to means for controlling the means for reading encoded data.

3. The equipment item according to claim 2, wherein the bottom of the container is open-worked.

4. The equipment item according to claim 1, wherein the cavity of the apparatus comprises support means for a container, molded to allow an incline of the bottom of the container relative to the bottom of the apparatus.

5. The equipment item according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall of the apparatus comprises two opposite walls provided with rails each forming an angle with the bottom of the apparatus and being cooperative with slides included by said container.

6. The equipment item according to claim 5, wherein the angle is inclusively between 10 and 80.

7. The equipment item according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a removable tray molded to rest on its bottom.

8. The equipment item according to claim 1, wherein the means for reading encoded data of said reading apparatus withstand a moist atmosphere.

9. The equipment item according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is comprised of at least one fan installed in said cavity.

10. The equipment item according to claim 1, wherein the means for reading the encoded data are defined by at least one of a group consisting of: a light scanner and a radio scanner of the RFID type.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The appended drawings illustrate the invention.

[0035] FIGS. 1A. 1B, and 1C show schematic views of baskets for storing inclusion cassettes during the step for dehydration of the biological samples, showing different structures.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of a variant embodiment of a container according to the invention.

[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the equipment item according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] In reference to these drawings, in the illustrated variant embodiment, the equipment item 1 according to the invention includes a universal container 2 designed to be able to accommodate different types of baskets 20, 21, 22 for inclusion cassettes 3. Conventionally, such baskets 20, 21, 22 are provided with the tissue processors used to dehydrate the specimens, and have a structure whose shape may vary, from one basket model to another. In short, the shape of the baskets is defined by their manufacturer, and may for example correspond to a half-moon shape (cf. FIG. 1A), a trapezoidal shape (cf. FIG. 1B), a parallelepipedal shape (cf. FIG. 1C), or any other shape making it possible to store a plurality of inclusion cassettes 3 in a sequenced manner. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the latter are generally positioned in individual housings included by the baskets 20, 21, 22, such that their face 30 provided with encoded identification data 31 is visible and preferably oriented upward.

[0039] In reference to FIG. 2, it has been imagined in the context of the invention to design the container 2 such that it includes different compartments with different shapes, each dedicated to receiving a basket 20, 21, 22 with a given structure or shape. Thus, in the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the container 2 assumes the form of a plate, the bottom of which preferably has a plurality of apertures 18, including three compartments 10, 11, 12 respectively dedicated to receiving a basket 22 of parallelepipedal shape, a trapezoidal basket 21 and a half-moon shaped basket 20. The receiving zones 10 and 11 overlap; of course, such a container is not able to simultaneously accommodate a parallelepipedal basket 22 and a trapezoidal basket 21. Conversely, it is perfectly suited to simultaneously receiving a parallelepipedal basket 22 or a trapezoidal basket 21 and a half-moon shaped basket 20. In other words, such a container 2 may, depending on the case, accommodate a single basket 10, or 11, or 12, or two baskets 10 and 12 or 11 and 12. Of course, an arrangement of the compartments other than that included by the container 2 of the illustrated example may also be provided.

[0040] Furthermore, the equipment item 1 also includes an apparatus 4 for reading encoded data affixed on the cassettes 3 placed in at least one of the baskets 20, 21, 22 placed in a container 2. More specifically, the apparatus 4 is delimited by a bottom 5, a peripheral wall 6, and an upper wall 7. It is provided with at least one opening 8 for access to at least one inner cavity 9 configured to accommodate a container 2 and equipped with means 13 for reading encoded data, for example a light scanner or a radio scanner of the RFID type. Means for computerized processing of the data read by the reading means 13, such as a computer 14 comprising a screen 15 and a keyboard 16, are also connected to the apparatus 4 by a wired or wireless connection 17.

[0041] In the illustrated variant embodiment, the reading apparatus 4 is further equipped with means (not illustrated) for detecting the presence of at least one basket 20, 21, 22 in the container 2, and designed to be able to send the corresponding information to means for controlling the means for reading encoded data 31. In short, such a feature makes it possible to program automatically, following a simple detection of the presence of a basket in a given compartment, the reading means such that they are able to suitably read the identification data 31 affixed on inclusion cassettes 3 placed depending on the case in a half-moon shaped basket 20, or in a trapezoidal basket 21, or in a parallelepipedal basket 22. Owing to such a structure, the equipment item 1 makes it possible to automate the reading of the encoded data 31 included by the cassettes 3 and to verify all of the content of one or two baskets 20, 21 or 22 simultaneously in a single step, irrespective of the general shape of such baskets.

[0042] Furthermore, in the illustrated variant embodiment, the peripheral wall 6 of the apparatus 4 includes two opposite walls provided with rails each forming an angle , preferably inclusively between 10 and 80, with the bottom 5 of the apparatus 4 and designed to be able to cooperate with slides included by the container 2. Such a structure favors any flow of formalin, with which the biological samples contained in the inclusion cassettes 3 may still be impregnated, through the apertures 18 of the container 2. A removable tray 19, molded to rest on the bottom 5 of the apparatus 4, further makes it possible to recover and discharge any liquid flowing from the container 4, so as to avoid any stagnation of toxic product in the apparatus 4 and to favor a suitable reading of the encoded data 31.

[0043] In this respect, it should be noted that in order to improve the longevity of the apparatus 4 and to favor suitable reading of the encoded data 31, at least one fan 23 is installed in the cavity 9, while the means 13 for reading encoded data are preferably configured to withstand a humid and potentially corrosive atmosphere.