89 results about "Specimen Handling" patented technology

A specimen-transport module adapted for use with each of a plurality of specimen-processing instruments of a multi-instrument clinical workcell. Such module is adapted to transport individual racks of specimen-containers relative to a specimen-aspiration probe of an associated instrument in a workcell, as well as to transfer selected racks of specimen-containers to an adjacent and identical specimen-transport module associated with another clinical instrument of the workcell. Since the same transport system is used to both present specimens for aspiration and to transfer specimens between instruments, there is no need for two independent conveyances as is characteristic of the prior art. Preferably, the specimen-transport module includes a magnetic X / Y transport system that operates beneath a rack-supporting surface to advance racks in mutually perpendicular directions across a supporting surface via magnetic forces.

A specimen processing system comprising: a specimen measuring section for measuring specimens accommodated in specimen containers; a transport section for transporting specimen containers to the specimen measuring section; a specimen container collect section for collecting specimen containers; an obtainer for obtaining shape information on specimen containers or state information on specimens accommodated in specimen containers; a supply judger configured for determining whether specimen containers are to be supplied to the specimen measuring section on the basis of the result obtained by the obtainer; and a delivery section for delivering specimen containers, which are determined to be supplied to the specimen measuring section by the supply judger, toward the transport section, and delivering specimen containers, which are determined not to be supplied to the specimen measuring section by the supply judger, toward the specimen container collect section, is disclosed. A specimen container classifying apparatus is also disclosed.

An automated laboratory slide management and interpretation system and method in which slides are stained and then digitally imaged and the images are interpreted prior to referral to a diagnostician or placement in storage. The interpretation of the images involves the application of pattern recognition principles to compare the digitized images to known sample patterns from a variety of sources. Additionally, based on the results of the interpretation, the slide may undergo additional testing or staining, and additional samples may be prepared and tested. The specimens may be delivered to the diagnostician along with a tentative diagnosis.

Devices for the non-invasive collection of a liquid sample in small quantities, such as urine for testing hydration in infants and incontinent adults, directly at the source of that sample, isolation of the collected sample from a testing site, the transportation of that sample to a site for testing contained within the device itself, and the selective application of some or all of the specimen to a testing apparatus contained within the device itself, with a minimum of specimen handling required. Other aspects include a method and device for facilitating the reading of the result of the specimen test by a skilled or unskilled user, including means for determining that no adequate sample has been delivered to the testing site.

An apparatus for performing a medical procedure comprises an elongated flexible member having an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough and an actuator positioned within the aperture. There is a biopsy means connected to the distal end of the actuator for cutting and collecting biopsy specimens and a removable distal storage and collection chamber connected to the elongated flexible member for receiving biopsy specimens cut and collected by the biopsy means. The removable storage and collection chamber is a means for immediate contact of the collected biopsy specimens with fixatives or reagents. The distal cassette is separable from the flexible member and can be sealed by a cap positionable over the storage and collection cassette for storage, in situ fixation and processing or later processing and analysis of biopsy specimens collected by the biopsy means in the order of collection.

A cold cryostorage assembly includes a storage chamber in which specimens can be cryo-preserved. Specimen samples are stored in a vacuum so as to minimize the risk of sample contamination. The specimen samples can be cooled and warmed at adjustable controlled rates which best suit the specimen samples in question. The storage chamber can be cooled to temperatures as low as −269° C. without the use of a cryogen that contacts the specimen sample containers. The specimens can be inserted into and / or removed from the storage chamber at individually programmed variable rates by means of an automated specimen-handling component of the assembly. The specimen handling component of the assembly can be operated by remote control, or even over the internet. The storage chamber is evacuated, and in any case, it does not involve the use of a cryogen in direct contact with sample containers in the storage chamber. The cryogen is contained inside of closed heat exchangers that are disposed in the storage chamber.

A specimen-transport module adapted for use with each of a plurality of specimen-processing instruments of a multi-instrument clinical workcell. Such module is adapted to transport individual racks of specimen-containers relative to a specimen-aspiration probe of an associated instrument in a workcell, as well as to transfer selected racks of specimen-containers to an adjacent and identical specimen-transport module associated with another clinical instrument of the workcell. Since the same transport system is used to both present specimens for aspiration and to transfer specimens between instruments, there is no need for two independent conveyances as is characteristic of the prior art. Preferably, the specimen-transport module includes a magnetic X / Y transport system that operates beneath a rack-supporting surface to advance racks in mutually perpendicular directions across a supporting surface via magnetic forces.

The invention discloses an apparatus and method for treating a biological slide sample. The apparatus mainly comprises a detection assembly, a base, arm Z, arm Y and arm X and a sampling probe. It is possible to automatically, regularly and quantitatively add a sample according to detection process requirements and detection steps, automatically control heating and automatically control liquid perfusion and liquid drainage, so that a detection process is fully automated. When the slide sample requires thermal treatment, it is possible to perfuse a solution into a mounting cell and heat. In the thermal treatment process, the solution in a gap will be sucked in from a bottom gap of a slide assembly under capillary action for the purpose of automatic supply even when it volatilizes, thermal treatment is full and uniform, drying never occurs, the problem that traditional drying by heating easily causes volatilization and slide drying is solved, and the reliability and repeatability of a heating process are guaranteed. The reliability, repeatability and efficiency of the treatment of the biological slide sample can be improved, and a whole-course automatic process can be achieved.

An automated laboratory slide management and interpretation system and method in which slides are stained and then digitally imaged and the images are interpreted prior to referral to a diagnostician or placement in storage. The interpretation of the images involves the application of pattern recognition principles to compare the digitized images to known sample patterns from a variety of sources. Additionally, based on the results of the interpretation, the slide may undergo additional testing or staining, and additional samples may be prepared and tested. The specimens may be delivered to the diagnostician along with a tentative diagnosis.

A clinical specimen processing apparatus are described, a representative one of which includes: an operation means for conducting operations to perform predetermined processing of clinical specimen; a detection means for detecting a operating condition of the operation means which performs the predetermined processing; comparison means for comparing a detection value detected by the detection means to a first threshold value and a second threshold value; and a determination means for determining whether or not the operation means is in any one of three condition stages.

An apparatus for performing a medical procedure comprises an elongated flexible member having an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough and an actuator positioned within the aperture. There is a biopsy means connected to the distal end of the actuator for cutting and collecting biopsy specimens and a removable distal storage and collection chamber connected to the elongated flexible member for receiving biopsy specimens cut and collected by the biopsy means. The removable storage and collection chamber is a means for immediate contact of the collected biopsy specimens with fixatives or reagents. The distal cassette is separable from the flexible member and can be sealed by a cap positionable over the storage and collection cassette for storage, in situ fixation and processing or later processing and analysis of biopsy specimens collected by the biopsy means in the order of collection.

A blood specimen processor by means of which blood specimens are collected into a collection tube containing an anticoagulant and a molded buoy of predetermined density between 1.045 and 1.084 with an embedded water swellable o-ring that expands to form a robust seal in a leucocyte density gradient between the buoy's outer surface and tube's inner surface. The buoy is made of a first resin and a second resin, the first resin having a lower density than the second resin, the first resin and the second resin being present in such amounts and relative proportions so that the body has an overall density between 1.045 and 1.084 and preferably, a center of gravity below a geometric center of the body. When the blood specimen contained in the processor is centrifuged, the buoy is thrust through the separating blood and the developing interface of erythrocytes, leucocytes, and plasma. A reproducible gradient develops that builds a reproducible buffy coat ring around the upper trough at the junction of the edge of the separator buoy and the tube wall. The relative proportions of resin are controlled to create a separator buoy of a desired density so that after centrifugation the buffy coat or other cells of interest will be above the water swellable o-ring.

Methods for the non-invasive collection of a liquid sample in small quantities, such as urine for testing hydration in infants and incontinent adults, directly at the source of that sample, isolation of the collected sample from a testing site, the transportation of that sample to a site for testing contained within the device itself, and the selective application of some or all of the specimen to a testing apparatus contained within the device itself, with a minimum of specimen handling required. Other aspects include a method and device for facilitating the reading of the result of the specimen test by a skilled or unskilled user, including means for determining that no adequate sample has been delivered to the testing site.

The invention provides a histopathological specimen processing system and belongs to the technical field of medical instruments. The histopathological specimen processing system comprises a movable clamping unit, a dehydration and wax immersion unit, a slicing unit, a slide glass dyeing unit, an image scanning and display unit and a master control unit. Through various units of the system, a series of processing steps such as fixing, dehydration, embedding, slicing, bleaching, dyeing and photographing of a histopathological specimen after drawing materials can be automatically completed, so that the labor amount of a technician is reduced, the technician is prevented from being in contact with toxic and harmful substances, and the histopathological specimen processing time is shortened.

The invention relates to the technical field of a clinical laboratory information system, and specifically relates to a laboratory information system. The laboratory information system comprises software login and preprocessing, wherein the software login is connected with a main interface; the main interface includes a login instrument, newly increasing, modifying and deleting of a specimen, adding, deleting and modifying of a specimen examination item, modifying of an examination item result value, query of a report, comparison of historical data, checking of an audited specimen, comments of a specimen, deleting and reverse auditing, auditing and printing of a report, making up printing of a report, converting of users, and matters needing attention; and the preprocessing includes printing of bar codes, processing of a specimen, logging of a specimen, single editing, batch editing, batch importing, a sample logging list, a sample undertaking and forwarding tracking, setting of hospital department doctors, and setting of logistics. The laboratory information system has the advantages that by means of deepening and improvement of the LIS system function, practicality and reliability of an LIS system can be improved; the work efficiency and accuracy of the laboratory information system can be improved; and the laboratory information system is suitable for promotion and usage.

A specimen processing device comprising: a specimen processing unit for processing specimens; a first conveyance mechanism for conveying specimens from a carry-in side towards a carry-out side on the opposite side of the carry-in side with respect to the specimen processing unit through a specimen supply position for supplying specimens to the specimen processing unit; a second conveyance mechanism for conveying specimens from the carry-in side towards the carry-out side without passing the specimen supply position; a first control device for controlling the first conveyance mechanism; and a second control device for controlling the second conveyance mechanism, is disclosed. A specimen conveyance device and a specimen conveyance method are also disclosed.

A reagent preparing device capable of supplying a predetermined reagent, which includes a first liquid and a second liquid different from the first liquid, to a measurement section for measuring a specimen using the reagent, comprising: a reagent preparing section for preparing the predetermined reagent; a characteristic measurement device for measuring characteristic of the reagent prepared by the reagent preparing section; and a controller configured for performing operations comprising, controlling the supply of reagent prepared by the reagent preparing section to the measurement section according to the measurement result by the characteristic measurement device, and calibrating the characteristic measurement device based on a known characteristic value of a standard liquid having the known characteristic value and a measurement result obtained by measuring the characteristic of the standard liquid by the characteristic measurement device, is disclosed. A specimen processing system is also disclosed.

According to an example of the invention, a specimen processing apparatus includes, image detection unit for detecting image data on a specimen before an analytical process to analyze the specimen, and chyle-laky blood detection unit for detecting a chylous or laky state of the specimen by the color of the specimen, based on the detected image data.

A reagent preparing device for preparing a reagent to be supplied to a measurement section for measuring a specimen; the reagent preparing device comprising: a reagent preparing section for preparing a reagent including a first liquid and a second liquid, different from the first liquid; a reagent storage container, connected to the measurement section, for storing the reagent prepared by the reagent preparing section; and a controller configured for determining whether or not the reagent stored in the reagent storage container is suppliable to the measurement section based on reagent expiration date information related to an expiration date of the reagent stored in the reagent storage container, is disclosed. A reagent preparing method and a specimen processing system are also disclosed.

The invention provides an automatically-operating stool examination instrument, which belongs to the technical field of clinical examination of medical health. The automatically-operating stool examination instrument mainly aims to overcome the problem of sensory discomfort of operating personnel caused by manually-operated stool examination in the prior art. The instrument has the following main characteristics: the instrument comprises a biological microscope, a specimen introduction device, a specific examination bidirectional slideway, a specific examination device, a glass slide device, a five-channel sampling needle and a Y-direction and Z-direction manipulator which are fixedly arranged on a base plate framework; the instrument can realize automatic sampling, slide production, automatic cleaning, automatic interpretation of specific examination results and automatic recovery of specific examination consumables; and a microscope carries out automatic scanning, automatic focusing and automatic locking of images, selectively takes textual and graphic files and prints textual and graphic examination reports. The automatically-operating stool examination instrument provided by the invention has the following characteristics: the instrument can prevent the operation personnel from direct and close contact with stool specimens, effectively prevents infection of examination personnel and occurrence of iatrogenic pollution, improves the quality of a stool smear and shortens specimen processing time. The automatically-operating stool examination instrument is mainly applied to automatic examination of conventional stool examination and colloidal-gold-process stool examination.

A cold cryostorage assembly includes a storage chamber in which specimens can be cryo-preserved. Specimen samples are stored in a vacuum so as to minimize the risk of sample contamination. The specimen samples can be cooled and warmed at adjustable controlled rates which best suit the specimen samples in question. The storage chamber can be cooled to temperatures as low as −269° C. without the use of a cryogen that contacts the specimen sample containers. The specimens can be inserted into and / or removed from the storage chamber at individually programmed variable rates by means of an automated specimen-handling component of the assembly. The specimen handling component of the assembly can be operated by remote control, or even over the internet. The storage chamber is evacuated, and in any case, it does not involve the use of a cryogen in direct contact with sample containers in the storage chamber. The cryogen is contained inside of closed heat exchangers that are disposed in the storage chamber.

The current disclosure is directed to the field of pathology, and the automated handling of biological specimens from containers containing clear solutions wherein the biological specimens reside. A computer-implemented method is disclosed for extracting specimens from such containers via an extraction device attached to a robotic arm. The robotic arm is controlled by a robotic system controller. The three-dimensional location of all specimens are estimated using image analysis techniques using images obtained from a plurality of imaging systems. Image analysis is used to simultaneously guide the extraction device and track the location of specimens inside the container.

The invention discloses a pathological specimen processing method and belongs to the field of specimen processing technology. According to the processing method, sampled pathological tissues successively undergo fixation, dehydration, transparency, wax impregnation, embedding, slicing, staining and mounting so as to obtain a pathological specimen. The fixation is to fix the pathological tissues by the use of a fixative for 4-15 h. The fixative is composed of atractylol, ethoxylated acetylenediol, chlorogenic acid, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium chloride, ethyl acetate and pure water. The mounting is to carry out mounting on the stained pathological tissues by the use of a mixture of polyacrylamide, polyvinylpyrrolidone and xylene. According to the invention, toxicity of reagents used in the invention is obviously reduced, the fixation effect is good, degradation and transparency degree are easy to control. Then, the tissues are not easy to deform, embrittle or harden, and mounting is complete and staining is remarkable.

The invention provides a technique for improving paraffin embedding of a cell specimen. The technique is characterized by comprising the following steps: depositing the cell specimen, fixing, performing centrifugal treatment, extracting the cell specimen, performing conventional fixation, dehydrating, performing transparency treatment, performing paraffin soaking treatment, performing paraffin embedding, slicing, dyeing, and packaging. The technique provided by the invention has the advantages of being convenient and rapid to operate, free of pollution, good in practical effect and very applicable to popularization and use in large hospitals as specimen treatment and dyeing processes can be implemented simultaneously with conventional pathological specimens, and not only is conventional inspection implemented, but also immunohistochemistry and special dyeing can be carried out.

One or more mounting registration points provide alignment between a FIMS system and a specimen handling system that delivers a specimen retrieved from a specimen transport box. The specimen handling system includes one or more mounting points, each cooperating with an alignment fixture to immovably secure the specimen handling system to the FIMS system at a corresponding mounting registration point. This mounting technique provides automatic alignment of the specimen handling system to each mounting registration point of the FIMS system.

The invention relates to equipment for making biological tissue specimen paraffin sections, in particular to a rapid pathological tissue dehydrating machine. The rapid pathological tissue dehydrating machine comprises a machine box body and an intelligent operating table. A specimen treating box, a paraffin box, a vacuum pump, a plurality of reagent barrels and an ultrasonic generator are arranged in the machine box body, a microwave cavity is formed in the specimen treating box, a microwave source is connected to the microwave cavity, and the specimen treating box is connected with the paraffin box, the reagent barrels and the vacuum pump through pipeline assemblies. The rapid pathological tissue dehydrating machine integrates microwave treatment, ultrasonic treatment and vacuum treatment and cooperates with special reagents, traditional tissue treating time can be shortened to 20 min-3 h from 16 h-22 h, the procedures of immobilizing, dehydrating, transparentizing, wax impregnating, section making and diagnosing can be completed within 2 h after a small specimen is delivered, pathological diagnosis can be made within 32 h after a radical cure specimen is delivered, time of waiting for disease diagnosis is shortened for patients, anxiety is relieved, and especially time is saved for patients needing to receive special treatment such as surgery or targeted therapy; the length of stay is reduced for patients, and hospitalization expenses are reduced; meanwhile, the economic benefits of hospitals are increased.

A specimen collection and transport kit comprising an external housing member for receiving a tray. A tray comprising a plurality of compartments for receiving a plurality of specimen handling tools and at least one opening configured to receive a specimen container in an upright position during use. Methods for handling a biological specimen including arranging a specimen container in an upright orientation within a tray and transferring a portion of the specimen between one or more receptacles. The methods may be used, for example, to collect and transport urine for urinalysis to diagnose a sexually transmitted disease.

A specimen processing apparatus comprising: a specimen processing section which includes a movable section and processes a specimen by moving the movable section; and a controller for determining whether the movable section was moved while a specimen processing operation by the specimen processing section was stopped, and controlling the specimen processing section to perform a preparing operation for starting the specimen processing operation based on the determination result, is disclosed. A control method for a specimen processing apparatus is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a rapid drug sensitive detection reagent kit for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and a detection method thereof. The rapid drug sensitive detection reagent kit for Mycobacterium tuberculosis contains specimen treatment reagents, purification reagents, drug sensitive culture reagents and cell activity detection reagents; wherein, the cell activity detection reagents are alamar blue indicators. With the reagent kit and a result analysis method of the invention, the positive rate is greatly improved in comparison with the traditional method, the time of obtaining results is greatly advanced, and the whole test can obtain the results within three days.