Robotic Labware Movers for Parallel Liquid Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid handling robot (LHR) systems are limited by the use of robotic arms or gantries for 3-axis movement, leading to inefficiencies, increased idle time, and limited customizability for complex laboratory operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing robotic movers that move and actuate labware components relative to processing heads, enabling parallelized laboratory operations and reducing dependence on multi-axis movement, allowing for multiple processing heads to operate simultaneously and efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional LHR systems use robotic arms or gantries for 3-axis movement, then liquid handling tasks can be automated, but idle time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the processing head (pipettor) to the labware using robotic arms, the patent inverts the approach by moving the labware components themselves on a 2D plane. This inversion eliminates the need for complex 3-axis robotic arm movements and reduces idle time while maintaining automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the liquid handling process into independent station modules arranged on a 2D plane. Each station can be independently accessed by moving labware components to specific locations, allowing parallel operations and reducing idle time compared to sequential robotic arm movements.
2Ease of operation
If conventional LHR systems use robotic arms for 3-axis movement, then liquid handling can be performed, but spatial footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by keeping the processing head stationary and moving the labware on a 2D plane instead. This inversion significantly reduces the spatial footprint by eliminating the need for large 3-axis robotic arm movement space while maintaining full liquid handling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from 3-axis robotic arm movement to 2D plane movement of labware components. By changing the dimensionality of the movement system, the patent reduces spatial footprint while preserving essential liquid handling functions through a more compact configuration.
3Extent of automation
If conventional LHR systems use robotic arms, then automation is achieved, but adaptability for complex operations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic positioning of labware components on a 2D plane, allowing flexible arrangement and reconfiguration of stations. This dynamic approach enables high adaptability for complex operations while maintaining automation, as labware can be dynamically moved to appropriate stations based on operation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The 2D plane movement system provides universal adaptability by enabling a single platform to perform multiple different liquid handling operations through flexible labware positioning. The system can be reconfigured for various complex operations without requiring specialized robotic arms, achieving both automation and versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for robotic laboratory operations includes a stationary surface (2) adjacent laboratory equipment and at least one mover (4) configured to perform an action upon a payload atop the stationary surface (2). The action includes but is not limited to translation across at least a portion of the stationary surface. The at least one mover (4) has a drive member (12) configured to drive the translation a carrier that is mounted to the drive member and has a top surface configured to carry a pay load (8). The drive member (12) is configured to drive the at least one mover (4) across the at least the portion of the stationary surface (2) for moving the payload relative to the laboratory equipment.