In-Vitro Diagnostics Carrier Rotation for Barcode Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In in-vitro diagnostics systems, the placement of sample vessels within carriers often results in obscured visibility of detectable features, such as barcodes, due to holding elements like tines, leading to blind spots that require complex vessel repositioning for clear reading, which complicates sample handling and increases the risk of misreading.
Innovation Solution
A control device analyzes measurement and obscuring data to correct the characteristics of the data carrier by relocating the sample vessel within the carrier, optimizing its position relative to the read-out window for improved visibility, using structural member data and digital image analysis to determine the best alignment and movement for accurate reading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sample vessel is relocated to a different slot in the carrier to eliminate blind spots, then the visibility of the barcode is improved, but the device complexity and handling complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the read-out window movable relative to the sample vessel by allowing rotation of the carrier or its slots. This dynamic adjustment enables the read-out window to be positioned at different angular positions around the sample vessel, allowing barcode reading from multiple perspectives without physically relocating the sample vessel to different slots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rotational dimension to the reading process. Instead of moving the sample vessel linearly between slots, the system rotates the carrier or slots to present different angular positions of the same sample vessel to the fixed read-out window, effectively adding a rotational degree of freedom to solve the visibility problem.
2Measurement precision
If multiple optical devices are used to capture images from multiple perspectives, then the complete characterization of the sample vessel is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single optical device (read-out window) that becomes dynamic through rotational movement of the carrier or slots. This single moving component replaces what would otherwise require multiple fixed optical devices, achieving multiple perspective imaging through temporal sequencing of a single sensor's views as the system rotates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple virtual copies of the reading process by capturing images at different rotational positions. The same optical device effectively becomes multiple imaging stations by capturing the sample vessel from different angular perspectives at different times, eliminating the need for physically multiple optical devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure refers to an arrangement for an in-vitro diagnostics system, comprising: an automation track (1); a plurality of carriers (2a, 2b) configured to carry one or more sample vessels along the automation track (1), wherein the one or more sample vessels each are provided with a data carrier; and a control station placed along the automation track (1). The control station is comprising a camera device configured to detect images of a sample vessel (4) from the one or more sample vessels received in a carrier (2a) from the plurality of carriers (2a, 2b), the images showing the data carrier provided on the sample vessel (4); at least in part; a data carrier reader configured to read the data carrier on the sample vessel (4) carried by the carrier (2a) through a read-out window, wherein the read-out window is provided by an opening of the carrier (2a) at least partially enclosed by structural members of the carrier (2a); a relocation device configured to relocate the sample vessel (4) in the carrier (2a) in response to control data; and a control device in communication with the camera device and the relocation device. The control device is configured to: provide measurement data indicating measured characteristics of the data carrier on the sample vessel (4) when the sample vessel (4) is located in a starting position, the measured characteristics determined from the images detected by the camera device; provide obscuring data indicating obscuring of a part of the data carrier by a structural member of the carrier (2a) when the images are detected while the sample vessel (4) is located in the starting position; determine, from the measurement data and the obscuring data, characteristics of the data carrier being different from the measured characteristics and comprising a location of the data carrier on the sample vessel (4) and a size of the data carrier; and provide, based on the characteristics of the data carrier, the control data configured to relocate the sample vessel (4) relative to the read-out window from the starting position into a read-out position providing optimized visibility for reading the data carrier through the read-out window by the data carrier reader. Further, a method for operating an arrangement in an in-vitro diagnostics system is disclosed.