Robotic Tissue Sampling With Disposable Tools and Traceable Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue sampling methods in the meat industry are manual, intensive, prone to errors, and lack consistency, with a need for improved automation to enhance sample collection efficiency and prevent contamination.
Innovation Solution
An automated robotic system with a robotic arm, camera, and sample handling assembly, capable of identifying sampling locations, collecting tissue samples, and ensuring reliable indexing and traceability, while minimizing contamination and human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual tissue sampling is performed, then the process is simple to implement, but it is intensive for operators, inconsistent, and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service sampling where the robotic arm autonomously positions, inserts, and retrieves sampling devices without human intervention. The system self-manages the entire sampling workflow including tray conveyance, device replacement, and sample collection, eliminating operator fatigue and inconsistency while maintaining simplicity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical sampling operations are replaced with an automated robotic system that uses programmed mechanical movements. The robotic arm substitutes human operators, performing precise positioning and sampling device manipulation through automated control systems, thereby improving reliability and consistency of sampling operations.
2Productivity
If automated sampling systems are implemented, then sampling efficiency is improved, but contamination risk between samples increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and isolates each sampling device into its own dedicated well within the tray after use. By separating used devices into individual wells and using fresh devices for each subsequent sample, the system prevents cross-contamination between samples while maintaining high throughput automated sampling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs disposable sampling devices that are discarded after a single use. Each sampling device is used once and then discarded into a designated well, eliminating the risk of contamination from reusing devices. This approach enables high-speed automated sampling without contamination concerns, as each sample contacts only a fresh, unused device.
3Ease of operation
If manual sampling processes are used, then equipment complexity is low, but the process is exhaustive and error-prone for operators
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system performs all sampling operations autonomously without requiring operator intervention for each sample. The robotic arm self-manages device insertion, sample collection, and tray management, dramatically reducing operator workload from exhaustive manual tasks to simple system monitoring and tray replacement.
4Productivity
If high-throughput automated sampling is implemented, then productivity increases, but the risk of sample contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses disposable sampling devices that maintain sample integrity through single-use isolation. Each device is used once at high speed by the automated robotic system, then discarded into a dedicated well, preventing contamination even during high-throughput operations. This enables processing speed increases without compromising sample integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling system segments each sample into its own isolated well within the tray, with dedicated disposable devices for each sample. This segmentation physically separates samples during high-speed automated processing, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining the productivity benefits of automated high-throughput operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for collecting tissue samples, such as meat tissues on carcasses, for example in the food industry. Also provided are methods for collecting tissue samples, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions to execute at least one step of the method for collecting tissue samples.