System for processing closed sample tubes

摘要

A system for processing sample tubes comprising biological samples is presented. The system comprises two or more work cells for processing samples. In conjugation with at least two of the work cells, the system comprises one of the following units: a pipetting unit for withdrawing a volume of sample from a sample tube to be processed by the work cell and/or dispensing a volume of liquid into the sample tube, and an analytical unit for determining at least one sample parameter of a sample contained in a sample tube. The system further comprises a decapping/recapping device for each of the at least two work cells for removing a closure from a sample tube and for reclosing the sample tube before it is transported to another work cell.

主权项

1. A system for processing sample tubes comprising biological samples, the system comprising:
at least two work cells for processing samples, wherein each of the at least two of the work cells comprises
a pipetting unit for withdrawing a volume of sample from a sample tube to be processed by at least one of the at least two work cells and/or dispensing a volume of liquid into the sample tube, and/oran analytical unit for determining at least one sample parameter of the sample contained in the sample tube; at least one transportation unit to transport sample tubes from one work cell to at least another work cell; and a decapping/recapping device for each of the at least two work cells for removing a closure from the sample tube and for reclosing the sample tube before it is transported to another work cell; wherein the decapping/recapping device comprises, at least one closure holder, each comprising a closure gripper for gripping and holding the closure; at least one tube gripper cooperating with the closure gripper for biasing the tube and its closure away from each other when removing the closure and for biasing the tube and the closure towards each other when reclosing the tube with the same original closure; and a decapping station and a recapping station, wherein the closure holder moves from the decapping station where the closure gripper cooperates with a decapping tube gripper to remove a closure from the tube, to the recapping station where the closure gripper cooperates with a recapping tube gripper to reclose the same tube with the same closure.