Robotic Liquid Handling Foil Opening Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic liquid handling systems are limited in their ability to automate certain types of actions, particularly in opening reagent reservoirs sealed with foil, due to the complexity and intricacy of manual opening methods.
Innovation Solution
A robotic liquid handling system equipped with a tool featuring a cutting tip and a blunt protrusion, allowing the robotic arm to cut flaps in the foil and push them downwards into the reagent reservoir, thereby opening it without the need for manual intervention or additional counterforces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a robotic arm is used to manually open reagent reservoirs sealed with foil, then the system can handle sealed reagents, but the process becomes complex and requires additional counterforces to prevent spilling
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing foil is extracted and removed from the reagent reservoir opening by cutting it into sections and folding the sections away, allowing the robotic system to access the reagent without complex manipulation of the entire seal structure
Solution Approach 2:
A well wash subassembly acts as an intermediary tool between the robotic arm and the reagent reservoir, providing the necessary piercing and seal removal functions that simplify the overall automation process
2Ease of operation
If manual methods are used to open foil-sealed reagent reservoirs, then the opening can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and reduces throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing probe automatically pierces the seal and the well wash subassembly automatically removes the seal sections without requiring manual intervention, enabling the system to perform these tasks autonomously and efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical opening actions are replaced with automated robotic control sequences that coordinate the piercing probe and well wash subassembly movements, significantly reducing the time required for opening operations
3Extent of automation
If additional tools are added to the robotic system to open reagent reservoirs, then the system can automate seal removal, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The well wash subassembly serves multiple functions: it removes seals from reagent reservoirs, washes well plates, and can perform other liquid handling tasks, reducing the need for separate dedicated tools for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing probe and seal removal functionality are combined into a single integrated subassembly that can be mounted on the robotic arm, consolidating multiple operations into one tool
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~3C
AI summary
A robotic liquid handling system may be provided comprising a robotic arm and a controller configured to control the robotic arm to position and operate the robotic arm in a workspace of the robotic liquid handling system. The controller may be configured to, as part of a liquid handling task, control the robotic arm to open a reagent reservoir, wherein the reagent reservoir has an opening which is sealed by a foil. The controller may be configured to control the robotic arm to open the foil by controlling the robotic arm to, using a cutting tip (260), cut at least two flaps in the foil, and using a blunt protrusion, push the at least two flaps downwards into the reagent reservoir to clear at least part of the opening of the reagent reservoir. Further aspects of the invention relate to a computer-implemented method for controlling a robotic arm and to an opening tool (200) comprising the cutting tip and the blunt protrusion.