Automated, refrigerated specimen inventory management system

摘要

An automated, refrigerated specimen management system (ARSIMS) to hold sealed and/or opened sample/specimen tubes and/or containers that can be in the pre-analytical, in-process, or post-analytical phase of processing. The ARSIMS ensures that each sample/specimen tube, whether it is sealed, capped, closed or open, can be stored at an ideal storage temperature according to the particular phase of processing and as appropriate for the combination of sample/specimen type and analyte(s) to be tested.

主权项

1. A specimen inventory management system for holding a plurality of containers containing a sample under test in at least one of a pre-analytical phase, an in-process phase, and a post-analytical phase of processing at a storage temperature appropriate for the sample under test and the phase of processing, the system comprising:
a source configured to provide a cooling or warming fluid having a controlled temperature to selective locations; at least one area having a plurality of temperature zones, each zone of said plurality of temperature zones being structured and arranged to hold a discrete number of the plurality of containers at a desired controlled temperature and/or controlled humidity, wherein the source selectively provides the cooling or warming fluid to the plurality of temperature zones, and wherein the desired controlled temperature and/or controlled humidity is controlled at least in part by selectively restricting flow of the cooling or warming fluid into each individual container in the discrete number of the plurality of containers; a container receiving and removal area configured to receive each of the plurality of containers and to insert said each of the plurality of containers in one of the plurality of temperatures zones, and to remove said each of the plurality of containers from a respective temperature zone for disposal or for analysis; a temperature equilibration area adapted to enable containers to reach a temperature equilibrium commensurate with a temperature at a next destination; and a controller configured to identify the storage location and storage temperature of each of the plurality of containers, wherein at least one of the plurality of temperature zones includes at least one tray bin portion and corresponding removable tray portion that is adapted to be inserted into and removed from the at least one tray bin portion, wherein each tray portion is structured and arranged to include:
a tray to portion having a plurality of openings configured to retain the plurality of containers, the tray to portion providing a substantially airtight seal with the tray bin portion when fully inserted within and properly seated in said tray bin portion; a pair of side wall portions, which are attached to the tray top portion;one of an open front end portion, a partially open front end portion, and a closed front end portion; andone of an open rear end portion, a partially open rear end portion, and a closed rear end portion.