A traceable automated analysis system

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of biotechnology and medical device technology, and relates to a traceable automated analysis system. The traceable automated analysis system includes a worktable, pipette tips, and a pipetting unit. The pipetting unit is movable in three directions (X, Y, and Z). It also includes a disposal module mounted on the worktable. The disposal module comprises a disposal box and an assembly. The disposal box is assembled onto the assembly and has several compartments, each containing at least one disposal carrier. The pipetting unit includes several pipetting channels that can simultaneously or sequentially dispose of corresponding pipette tips into the disposal box. When disposing of pipette tips, the system allows for vertical and controllable entry into the corresponding disposal orifice, preventing splashing of waste liquid, reducing the need for cleaning and disinfection of the worktable and disposal containers, and reducing workload.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a traceable automated analysis system, belonging to the field of biotechnology and medical device technology. Background Technology

[0002] Automated analytical systems (such as chemical analyzers or immunoassay instruments) typically include a liquid handling unit in a pipetting workstation and integrate third-party equipment or modules such as analytical instruments and centrifuges. They are used to analyze samples such as urine, serum, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid, and are widely used in fields that require automated micro-volume liquid handling, such as disease diagnosis and analysis, infectious disease screening, nucleic acid purification, gene and protein sequencing, rapid clone screening, cell culture, and biological sample preparation.

[0003] These systems use a variety of consumables, such as multiwell plates, pipette tip holders, cryovials, test tubes, and reagent kits. After the experimental steps are completed, the consumables or containers are usually transported as waste to a waste bin or container, and are emptied or replaced by the operator when the waste bin or container is full.

[0004] The term "waste" here refers to solid or liquid waste generated after the analysis system has been used, including solid and liquid consumables. Solid consumables include used pipette tips, tip holders, single tubes, multi-well plates, cryovials, and test tube boxes; liquid consumables include used reagent solutions, cleaning solutions, reaction products, and residual sample liquids. These consumables may be used once or multiple times and are ultimately disposed of as waste.

[0005] In automated analytical systems, pipetting units are typically capable of moving in three directions (X, Y, and Z). Disposable pipette tips come in various sizes, and to prevent cross-contamination, the tips are detachably attached to the pipetting channel for drawing sample liquid from or transferring it to sample containers. Used disposable pipette tips are disposed of in the container. In existing technologies, disposal containers are designed as boxes or bags, usually lined with disposable medical waste bags or other flexible liners for easy replacement.

[0006] However, these systems have several problems. When the disposal containers are full, the waste bags must be emptied or replaced, affecting the continuous operation of automated equipment and unattended operation time. The work surface, due to contact with waste liquid, also requires regular cleaning to remove accumulated waste liquid contamination. Furthermore, pipette tips are often scattered haphazardly in the containers, resulting in low volume utilization and increasing the risk of puncturing the waste bags. Residual liquid on the inner and outer walls of the pipette tips may leak or splash, contaminating the experimental environment, which is particularly important for environmental control during nucleic acid detection analysis. Additionally, pipette tips are usually placed in a matrix in the tip holder to ensure their fixed position on the equipment platform and the accuracy tolerance of the pipetting channels within the system's acceptable range. Sealed packaging boxes, as packaging and transportation units for tips and holders, provide effective cleaning and protection, but they themselves are not suitable for direct use on the machine; these packaging boxes and tip holders are also discarded as waste after the experiment.

[0007] US Patent Publication No. US11385247B2 discloses a method for disposing of solid waste into a waste bin, providing a conveying mechanism that pushes solid waste into the waste bin via a sliding element; German Patent Publication No. DE102012206239A1 discloses a metering device that uses a device for the disposal container to follow the liquid channel, incorporating guiding elements to ensure orderly drop of pipette tips, improving space utilization, and providing a discharge opening for more efficient waste removal; Japanese Patent Publication No. JP3569779B2 discloses a pipette tip box with a waste tray for temporarily storing used pipette tips. However, none of these solutions solve the efficiency problems of multiple-channel disposal, nor the issues of waste splashing and the difficulty of cleaning irregularly shaped disposal containers. Utility Model Content

[0008] This invention addresses the numerous shortcomings in waste disposal within current automated analysis systems, necessitating a more efficient, safe, and easy-to-operate waste disposal solution to improve equipment operating efficiency and laboratory environment safety. It provides a traceable automated analysis system and method to resolve the technical problems existing in the prior art as described above.

[0009] The technical solution provided by this utility model is as follows: One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a traceable automated analysis system, including a worktable, pipette tips, and a pipetting unit. The pipetting unit is movable in three directions (X, Y, and Z). The system also includes a disposal module disposed on the worktable. The disposal module comprises a disposal box and an assembly. The disposal box is assembled onto the assembly. The pipetting unit includes several pipetting channels. The pipette tips are detachably attached to their respective pipetting channels. The pipetting channels can simultaneously or sequentially dispose of corresponding pipette tips into the disposal box.

[0010] The advantages of the above technical solution are that the disposal module and the pipetting channel correspond to each other, and the discarded pipette tips are placed independently. This allows for traceability of the pipetting channel and pipette tips used during the experiment, accurately identifying any problems and enabling timely and targeted problem-solving. The placement of the disposal module on the tabletop can be optimized based on the optimal path. It can be fixed to both sides of the pipette tip holder, placed on both sides of the target container, or placed at the far side of the tabletop to reduce the movement path and time of the pipetting channel in the X and Y axes. All compartments within the disposal box can be equipped with disposal holders for discarding pipette tips requiring traceability; alternatively, empty compartments (without disposal holders) can be used to discard other pipette tips that do not require traceability. The pipetting channel can discard multiple pipette tips simultaneously or sequentially, improving disposal efficiency according to specific experimental analysis requirements.

[0011] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows: Furthermore, the disposal box is equipped with a disposal box lid, which is a three-fold sealing lid or a blister sealing lid.

[0012] Furthermore, the two long sides and one short side of the three-fold sealing cover are configured as three-fold edges, the guide cavity formed by the three-fold edges is adapted to the outer edge of the disposal box, and a locking element is provided on the other short side of the three-fold sealing cover.

[0013] Furthermore, the height of the guide cavity formed by the three folds allows for the stacking and disposal of pipette tips.

[0014] The effect of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that the height of the guide cavity is correspondingly increased, allowing pipette tips to be stacked and disposed of, further reducing the space occupied by the pipette tips. For example, the tip of a 50µl tip can be inserted into the open end of a 300µl tip, forming a nested structure. The height of the stacked pipette tips increases, and the three-fold sealing cap can also be placed on the disposal box through the increased guide cavity, thus increasing the space utilization and improving work efficiency.

[0015] Furthermore, the pipetting channel is equipped with a probe, which enables the pipetting channel to adapt and interact with pipetting tips, automatically completing the installation, disposal, and replacement of pipetting tips.

[0016] The advantage of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that the pipette tip can be coupled or decoupled through the probe on the pipetting channel, which facilitates the adaptation and interaction of the pipette tip.

[0017] Furthermore, the disposal box and disposal carrier are the packaging box and carrier of the pipette tip itself.

[0018] The effect of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that by using the packaging box and carrier of the pipette tip itself as the disposal box and disposal carrier, it can not only make use of waste and reduce waste, but also perfectly match the pipette tip and ensure that there will be no splashing or leakage during the disposal process.

[0019] Furthermore, the assembly is provided with a groove, the groove having an arc chamfer, the arc chamfer being adapted to the outer bottom of the disposal box.

[0020] The effect of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that the chamfered edge on the groove can maintain the stability of the disposal box, ensuring that the disposal box will not tip over. Furthermore, the groove on the assembly can either have a hollow bottom to reduce weight and save material, or it can have a base plate to prevent leakage onto the table surface in the event of an accidental breakage of the disposal box.

[0021] Furthermore, the disposal box has several compartments, each compartment is equipped with at least one disposal rack, and the disposal rack has several disposal holes.

[0022] Furthermore, the disposal orifice allows the pipette tip to remain vertical after disposal.

[0023] Furthermore, the assembly is slidably connected to the tabletop via a track.

[0024] Furthermore, the assembly is provided with a sensing block for monitoring the loading status of the assembly; the groove is provided with a sensing plate for monitoring the loading status of the disposal box.

[0025] The effect of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that a sensing block is installed at the front end of the assembly, which corresponds to the sensor on the table. When the assembly is not properly loaded, the sensor will sound an alarm to reduce problems caused by improper loading of the assembly during the experiment. There is a sensing plate on the groove to monitor whether the disposal box is installed properly, so as to ensure that the pipette tip can be accurately disposed of into the corresponding disposal hole when it is disposed of.

[0026] Furthermore, the pipette tip is a disposable tip or a disposable sample tip.

[0027] The technical solution provided by this utility model has the following advantages compared with the prior art: This invention features a waste disposal module directly installed on the worktable, using the original packaging boxes of pipette tips as disposal containers. The pipette tips are aligned with the disposal holes, ensuring orderly placement of the discarded tips. This maximizes the utilization of the disposal container's volume and allows for traceability of the pipette tips and pipetting channels throughout the entire experimental process, enabling rapid troubleshooting. Furthermore, the pipetting channels of this invention can dispose of pipette tips simultaneously or sequentially, improving the efficiency of the analytical system.

[0028] When disposing of a pipette tip, this invention allows the tip to be vertically and controllably inserted into the corresponding disposal hole by selecting an appropriate Z-axis distance, preventing splashing of waste liquid, reducing the need for cleaning and disinfection of the work surface and disposal container, and reducing workload. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the traceable automated analysis system of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the disposal module of this utility model. Figure 1 ; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the disposal module of this utility model. Figure 2 ; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the disposal module of this utility model. Figure 3 ; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the disposal box lid of this utility model. Figure 1 ; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the disposal box lid of this utility model. Figure 2 ; Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 8 This is a structural schematic diagram of the assembly of this utility model.

[0030] In the diagram, 1 is the pipetting channel; 2 is the disposal module; 21 is the disposal box; 211 is the disposal carrier; 212 is the disposal hole; 22 is the disposal box cover; 221 is the guide cavity; 222 is the locking element; 23 is the assembly; 231 is the track; 233 is the groove; and 234 is the curved chamfer. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The principles and features of this utility model are described below with reference to examples. The examples are only used to explain this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model.

[0032] like Figures 1-8As shown, a traceable automated analysis system includes a worktable, pipette tips, a pipetting unit, and a disposal module 2 mounted on the worktable. The pipetting unit is movable in three directions (X, Y, Z). The disposal module 2 includes a disposal box 21 and an assembly 23. The disposal box 21 is mounted on the assembly 23. The pipetting unit has several pipetting channels 1, and each pipette tip is detachably attached to its respective channel. Each pipetting channel 1 can simultaneously or sequentially dispose of corresponding pipette tips into the disposal box 21. The disposal box 21 and the pipetting channels 1 correspond to each other, allowing for simultaneous or sequential disposal of pipette tips according to experimental needs. This enables traceability of the used pipetting channels 1 and pipette tips during the experiment, accurately identifying any problems with the used channels 1 and pipette tips, and allowing for timely and targeted problem resolution. The disposal box 21 is equipped with a disposal box lid 22, which is a three-fold sealing lid or a blister sealing lid. Both the disposal box 21 and the disposal box lid 22 are made of transparent PET material, allowing real-time observation of the contents of the disposal box 21. Since the disposal box 21 and the disposal box lid 22 need to be disposed of as biological waste after use, choosing a cheaper material saves costs while ensuring quality. The two long sides and one short side of the three-fold sealing lid are configured as three-fold edges, and the guide cavity 221 formed by the three-fold edges is adapted to the outer edge of the disposal box 21. A locking element 222 is provided on the other short side of the three-fold sealing lid. The height of the guide cavity 221 formed by the three folds can also be set to allow for the stacking and disposal of pipette tips. A correspondingly increased height of the guide cavity 221 allows for the stacking and disposal of pipette tips, further reducing the space occupied by the tips. For example, a 50µl pipette tip can be placed on a 300µl pipette tip, or on a 1000µl pipette tip, increasing space utilization and improving work efficiency. The assembly 23 is slidably connected to the table surface via a track 231. The assembly 23 is equipped with a sensor block to monitor its loading status. The sensor block, located at the front end of the assembly 23, corresponds to a sensor on the table surface. If the assembly 23 is not properly loaded, the sensor will trigger an alarm to reduce problems during the experiment. The assembly 23 is provided with a groove 233, and the groove 233 is provided with an arc chamfer 234. The arc chamfer 234 is adapted to the outer bottom of the disposal box 21. The arc chamfer 234 on the groove 233 can maintain the stability of the disposal box 21 and ensure that the disposal box 21 will not tip over. Furthermore, the groove 233 on the assembly 23 can be hollow at the bottom to reduce weight and save material, or it can have a bottom plate to prevent the disposal box 21 from breaking and leaking liquid onto the table surface in the event of an accident.A sensor is provided on the groove 233 to monitor the loading status of the disposal box 21. The sensor on the groove 233 is used to monitor whether the disposal box 21 is installed correctly, so as to ensure that the pipette tip can be accurately disposed of into the corresponding disposal hole 212. A probe is provided on the pipetting channel 1. The pipetting channel 1 can adapt and interact with the pipette tip through the probe, and automatically complete the installation, disposal and replacement of the pipette tip. The probe on the pipetting channel 1 can couple and decouple the pipette tip, which facilitates the adaptation and interaction of the pipette tip. The disposal box 21 contains several disposal racks 211. The disposal box 21 and the disposal racks 211 are the packaging boxes and racks of the pipette tips themselves. Using the packaging boxes and racks of the pipette tips themselves as disposal boxes 21 and disposal racks 211 can not only make use of waste and reduce waste, but also perfectly match the pipette tips and ensure that there will be no splashing or leakage during the disposal process. The disposal rack 211 is provided with a plurality of disposal holes 212, the disposal holes 212 corresponding to the positions of the pipette tips. The position of the disposal hole 212 can be used to trace the pipette tip used. The bottom of the disposal box 21 is provided with absorbent material. The disposal box 21 serves as a waste liquid disposal box to reduce or eliminate waste liquid containers on the work surface, saving work surface area. When disposing of pipette tips, the coupling between the pipetting channel 1 and the pipette tip can be left undisconnected, and the waste liquid can be directly disposed of in the disposal box 21. The absorbent material at the bottom of the disposal box 21 will absorb the waste liquid, which can ensure that the liquid will not splash out, especially when there is a lot of waste liquid.

[0033] This invention features a waste disposal module directly installed on the workbench, using the original packaging boxes of pipette tips as disposal containers 21. Pipettes are aligned with disposal holes 212, ensuring orderly placement of the discarded pipette tips. This maximizes the utilization of the disposal container 21's volume and allows for traceability of the pipette tips and pipetting channel 1 throughout the experiment, facilitating rapid troubleshooting. The pipetting channel 1 allows for simultaneous or sequential disposal of pipette tips, improving the efficiency of the analytical system. When disposing of pipette tips, a suitable Z-axis distance ensures vertical and controllable entry into the corresponding disposal hole 212, preventing splashing and reducing the need for cleaning and disinfecting the workbench and disposal containers, thus reducing workload.

[0034] A traceable automated analysis method includes the following steps: When the pipetting channel 1 disposes of the pipette tip into the disposal module 2, one or more pipetting channels 1 move with the pipette tip to a position above the corresponding disposal hole 212; then the pipetting channel 1 moves downward along the Z-axis and decouples, and the pipette tip falls vertically into the disposal hole 212, completing the disposal of the pipette tip; check the test results, and if any abnormality is found, the corresponding pipetting channel 1 and pipette tip can be traced and checked; after the disposal box 21 is completely filled, the disposal box cover 22 is closed, and the disposal box 21 and the disposal box cover 22 can be directly disposed of as biological waste without liquid leakage.

[0035] When the traceable automated analysis system of this utility model is in operation, the new pipette tip to be used is first installed on the table. Then, a pipette tip packaging box identical to the pipette tip is used as a disposal box 21 and loaded onto the assembly 23. The disposal box 21 is then loaded into the appropriate position via the track 231 of the assembly 23. Then, the system begins automatic liquid processing. First, the pipetting channel 1 is coupled with the pipette tip. After the detection and analysis are completed, the pipetting channel 1 moves in the XYZ axis direction to decouple the used pipette tip and place it into the corresponding disposal hole 212. When the disposal box 21 is full, the guide cavity 221 formed by the three folds of the disposal box cover 22 is aligned with the outer edge of the disposal box 21 and pushed inward. Then, the assembler is pulled outward, and the locking piece 222 of the disposal box cover 22 is fastened. The disposal box 21 and the disposal box cover 22 are then disposed of as biological waste.

[0036] Furthermore, the number of new pipette tips and the number of disposal holes 212 used in this invention correspond one-to-one, so there is no need to stop the machine to clean the disposal box 21 during the experiment. This allows the entire analytical experiment to be conducted without manual intervention, saving manpower and time.

[0037] This invention relates to a disposable pipette tip disposal system. Specifically, during and after disposal, the disposable pipette tip is prevented from contacting the bottom of the disposal box 21 by the disposal carrier 211, leaving it suspended. This suspension provides a buffer between the pipette tip and the bottom of the disposal box, offering a buffer during subsequent waste transfer. Furthermore, if the pipette tip were to contact the bottom of the disposal box, residual liquid inside would transfer to the bottom due to surface tension and mix with other waste liquids. Even a small amount of waste liquid at the bottom could result in all pipette tips being submerged in the mixed waste liquid, hindering complete traceability. With a suspended pipette tip, there is no concern about it being touched by mixed waste liquid, ensuring complete traceability. The suspension also prevents the pipette tip from contacting the bottom of the disposal box 21 when applying downward pressure to the disposal carrier 211 via the pipetting channel 1, thus preventing damage to the pipetting channel 1.

[0038] The disposal box 21 in this embodiment has 5 compartments, each of which can hold 96 disposable pipette tips per layer. When the disposal box 21 is fully loaded, the number of disposable pipette tips loaded per layer is 480. The volume ratio of the disposal box 21 when fully loaded can reach more than 15-20%, which greatly improves the utilization rate of the disposal box 21.

[0039] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A traceable automated analysis system, comprising a platform, pipette tips, and a pipetting unit, wherein the pipetting unit is movable in three directions (X, Y, Z), characterized in that, It also includes a disposal module (2) set on the tabletop. The disposal module (2) includes a disposal box (21) and an assembly (23). The disposal box (21) can be assembled on the assembly (23). The pipetting unit includes several pipetting channels (1). The pipetting tips are detachably attached to their respective pipetting channels (1). The pipetting channels (1) can simultaneously or sequentially dispose of several corresponding pipetting tips into the disposal box (21).

2. The traceable automated analysis system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The disposal box (21) is equipped with a disposal box lid (22), which is a three-fold sealing lid or a blister sealing lid.

3. The traceable automated analysis system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The two long sides and one short side of the three-fold sealing cover are configured as three-fold edges. The guide cavity (221) formed by the three-fold edges is adapted to the outer edge of the disposal box (21). The other short side of the three-fold sealing cover is provided with a locking element (222).

4. The traceable automated analysis system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The height of the guide cavity formed by the three folds is sufficient to allow the pipette tips to be stacked and discarded.

5. The traceable automated analysis system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The disposal box (21) and disposal carrier (211) are the packaging box and carrier of the pipette tip itself.

6. The traceable automated analysis system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The assembly (23) is provided with a groove (233), and the groove (233) is provided with an arc chamfer (234), which is adapted to the outer bottom of the disposal box (21).

7. The traceable automated analysis system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The disposal box (21) has several compartments, each compartment is equipped with at least one disposal rack (211), and the disposal rack (211) has several disposal holes (212).

8. The traceable automated analysis system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The disposal hole (212) allows the pipette tip to remain vertical after disposal.

9. The traceable automated analysis system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The assembly is slidably connected to the tabletop via a track.

10. The traceable automated analysis system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The assembly is equipped with a sensor block for monitoring the loading status of the assembly, and the groove is equipped with a sensor plate for monitoring the loading status of the disposal box.

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