Mobile Lab Robot Handling Sealed Sample Transport Safely
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-vitro diagnostic laboratories face challenges in automating the movement and manipulation of samples and reagents due to demanding shift schedules, skilled worker shortages, and complex spatial requirements, particularly in ensuring safety and maintaining specific conditions during transportation and storage.
Innovation Solution
A mobile autonomous collaborative assistance robot equipped with a navigation unit, local processor, communication unit, propulsion system, gripping arm, and sensor unit for autonomous navigation and manipulation of samples and reagents, including temperature-controlled storage and safety features to prevent spillage and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mobile robots are used for transporting samples and reagents in IVD laboratories, then productivity and automation are improved, but safety risks increase due to potential sample spillage and infectious material handling
Solution Approach 1:
The robot employs sealed transport containers with closed-loop pathways for sample and reagent transfer. The system uses sealed cartridges and closed transport mechanisms that prevent sample spillage while enabling automated movement, thus maintaining productivity without compromising safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot acts as an intermediary between storage areas and analytical instruments, handling all sample and reagent transfers through controlled, sealed interfaces. This intermediary role eliminates direct human contact with potentially infectious materials while maintaining efficient workflow through automated pick-and-place operations.
2Ease of operation
If the robot arm reaches deep into storage areas to access samples and reagents, then accessibility to stored positions is improved, but the risk of damaging samples in front positions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system performs preliminary organization of samples and reagents in storage areas, placing frequently accessed items in easily reachable positions. The system also pre-plans retrieval sequences to minimize arm movement through sample regions, accessing deep positions only when necessary and using careful, controlled motion profiles to avoid disturbing samples in front positions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot is designed to access high and low shelving systems, then versatility in accessing different storage areas is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot employs a universal linear lifting axis that can rotate 360 degrees horizontally and move vertically along a guide rail, enabling a single mechanism to access high shelving, low storage areas, and intermediate positions. This multi-functional design achieves versatility without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same arm and gripper serve all storage levels.
4Productivity
If the robot operates autonomously 24/7 in IVD laboratories, then productivity is improved, but the requirement for skilled personnel decreases leading to workforce challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system performs self-service through autonomous navigation, automated sample and reagent handling, and self-monitoring of operational status. The system can independently execute workflows, return to charging stations, and continue operation without human intervention, enabling 24/7 productivity while reducing dependency on skilled personnel for routine tasks.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one aspect, the invention relates to a mobile autonomous collaborative assistance robot (100) for moving and/or manipulating objects, in particular samples, especially liquid samples and/or reagents and/or devices, in a medical operating area, in particular in an in-vitro diagnostic laboratory for the analysis of the samples, comprising: - A navigation unit (101) for autonomous or semi-autonomous collision-free navigation in the operating area; - A local processor unit (102) for data and signal processing; - A communication unit (103) for interaction with external devices via wireless interfaces; - An autonomous drive system (104), in particular an electric drive system; - A power supply unit (105);- A body (106) to which a rotatably mounted linear lifting axis (H) is attached, wherein at least one gripping arm (G) is rigidly attached to a slide (S) of the lifting axis (H) so that the gripping arm (G) can operate a cylindrical working area; - A sensor unit (107), in particular comprising a set of optical sensors for environmental detection; and - An identification direction (108) which is intended for the unambiguous identification of the objects to be moved and in particular for the identification of the contents of these objects.