Automated Diagnostic Kiosk for Diagnosing Diseases

Abstract

An automated and autonomous diagnostic apparatus that is capable of dispensing collection vials and collections kits to users interesting in collecting a biological sample and submitting their collected sample contained within a collection vial into the apparatus for automated diagnostic services. The user communicates with the apparatus through a touch-screen monitor. A user is able to enter personnel information into the apparatus including medical history, insurance information, co-payment, and answer a series of questions regarding their illness, which is used to determine the assay most likely to yield a positive result. Remotely-located physicians can communicate with users of the apparatus using video tele-medicine and request specific assays to be performed. The apparatus archives submitted samples for additional testing. Users may receive their assay results electronically. Users may allow the uploading of their diagnoses into a central databank for disease surveillance purposes.

1 . An automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing vials containing samples from users, comprising:
 a body unit,   an automated diagnostic instrument in said body unit that analyzes sample vials and produces diagnoses for users,   a movable vial acquisition unit in said body unit that transfers sample vials from the users to the said automated diagnostic instrument, and   a control in said body unit that is connected to said movable vial acquisition unit and said automated diagnostic instrument.   
   
   
       2 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 1  wherein said control includes an internet capable computer. 
   
   
       3 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 1  wherein said control includes a touch-screen monitor. 
   
   
       4 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 1  including a video camera with audio capabilities connected to said control. 
   
   
       5 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 1  including a pay station connected to said control. 
   
   
       6 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials from  claim 1  wherein said automated diagnostic instrument in said body unit that analyzes samples and produces diagnoses includes:
 an optical detector;   sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids;   a sample multi-position valve for receiving and processing the sample, said sample multi-position valve connected to said optical detector, and to said sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids; and   a reagent multi-position valve connected to said sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids and to said sample multi-position valve.   
   
   
       7 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 1  wherein said automated diagnostic instrument has multiple channels for processing multiple samples, and said vial acquisition unit is able to deliver samples to a multiplicity of locations for the said automated diagnostic instrument to acquire the samples. 
   
   
       8 . An automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing vials containing samples from users, comprising:
 a body unit,   an automated diagnostic instrument in said body unit that analyzes samples and produces diagnoses for the users,   a movable vial acquisition unit in said body unit that transfers sample vials from the users to the said automated diagnostic instrument, and   vials,   a vial storage and archiving unit in said body that stores and archives said vials, and is accessible by said movable vial acquisition unit,   a control in said body unit that is connected to said movable vial acquisition unit, said vial storage and archiving unit, and said automated diagnostic instrument.   
   
   
       9 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 8  wherein said control includes an internet capable computer. 
   
   
       10 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 8  wherein said control includes a touch-screen monitor. 
   
   
       11 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 8  including a video camera connected to said control. 
   
   
       12 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 8  including a pay station connected to said control. 
   
   
       13 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials from  claim 8  wherein said automated diagnostic instrument in said body unit that analyzes samples and produces diagnoses includes:
 an optical detector;   sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids;   a sample multi-position valve for receiving and processing the sample, said sample multi-position valve connected to said optical detector, and to said sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids; and   a reagent multi-position valve connected to said sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids and to said sample multi-position valve.   
   
   
       14 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 8  wherein said automated diagnostic instrument has multiple channels for processing multiple samples, and said vial acquisition unit is able to deliver samples to a multiplicity of locations for the said automated diagnostic instrument to acquire and process the samples. 
   
   
       15 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing a sample vials of  claim 8  wherein said automated diagnostic instrument includes movable hollow needles that acquire samples from within vials by piercing the vials' caps. 
   
   
       16 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 8  wherein said vials contain liquid media and caps that can be pierced by needles. 
   
   
       17 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 8  wherein said vial storage/archiving unit comprises one or more trays of vials that store a multiplicity of vials. 
   
   
       18 . The automated diagnostic apparatus for analyzing sample vials of  claim 8  wherein said vial storage/archiving unit is a movable component within said body unit and accessible by said movable vial acquisition unit. 
   
   
       19 . A method of transferring vials within said body unit, comprising the steps of:
 removing vial from a location where user placed vial,   delivering vial to automated diagnostic instrument for sample acquisition and processing.   
   
   
       20 . A method of transferring vials of  claim 19  including the steps receiving a vial from a user and delivering it to one of a multiplicity of locations where the said automated diagnostic instrument may acquire the sample through one of a multiplicity of sample acquisition needles. 
   
   
       21 . A method of transferring vials of  claim 19  including the step of decontaminating the sample lines of the automated diagnostic instrument using cleansing solutions. 
   
   
       22 . A method of transferring vials within said body, comprising the steps of:
 removing a vial from a tray of vials,   delivering and placing a vial in a location for user pickup,   removing vial from a location where user placed vial,   delivering vial to automated diagnostic instrument for sample acquisition and processing, and   delivering vial from automated diagnostic instrument and placing vial into tray for archiving purposes.   
   
   
       23 . A method of transferring vials of  claim 22  including the step of decontaminating the sample lines of the automated diagnostic instrument using cleansing solutions. 
   
   
       24 . A method of transferring vials of  claim 22  including the steps of picking up an archived sample vial and delivering it to said diagnostic instrument for additional sample acquisition and additional sample processing. 
   
   
       25 . A method of transferring vials of  claim 22  including the steps of picking up an archived sample vial and delivering it to a user for additional sample processing outside of said body unit. 
   
   
       26 . A method of transferring vials of  claim 22  including the steps of sorting the vials in the archive tray according to a particular classification or category. 
   
   
       27 . A method of transferring vials in said unit body including the steps of:
 positioning the vial acquisition unit above and below a vial in a container,   vertically elevating the vial from the container from beneath using an extendable piston,   clasping the elevated vial above the container using a gripping mechanism, and   removing the vial from its container for transport to another location.