Sample transport systems and methods

摘要

Sample transport systems are described that move a sample carrier from one station to a next station in a sample processing systems. The systems include: a translating member; two or more sample carrier retaining devices attached to the translating member, wherein each of the two or more sample carrier retaining devices can include a retainer portion to temporarily retain one or more sample carriers; and a movement mechanism to move the translating member and the attached sample carrier retaining devices between a first position and a second position; wherein the sample carrier retaining devices are controlled and moved simultaneously to retain a sample carrier when the translating member reaches the first position and to release a sample carrier when the translating member reaches the second position to successively advance sample carriers in the sample processing systems.

主权项

1. A sample transport system that moves a sample carrier from one station to a next station in a sample processing system, the sample transport system comprising:
a translating member; two or more sample carrier retaining devices attached to the translating member at a fixed, equal spacing between adjacent sample carrier retaining devices, wherein each of the two or more sample carrier retaining devices comprises a retainer portion to temporarily retain one or more sample carriers; and a movement mechanism connected to the translating member to move the translating member and the attached sample carrier retaining devices back and forth between a first position and a second position, wherein the sample carrier retaining devices are all moved and controlled simultaneously to enable each respective retainer portion to contact and retain a sample carrier when the translating member reaches the first position and to release a sample carrier when the translating member reaches the second position, such that as the translating member moves back and forth between the first position and the second position, sample carriers are advanced successively from one station to a next station in the sample processing system; and wherein the movement mechanism moves all sample carrier retaining devices vertically and horizontally between a first position and a second position and rotates a subset of the sample carrier retaining devices so that one or more sample carriers are positioned in a proper orientation at the second position.