System for managing inventory of bulk liquids

Abstract

A system for managing bulk liquids for an automated clinical analyzer. The system comprises (a) at least one local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use, (b) at least one container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir, and (c) a controller for monitoring the level of a bulk liquid in a local reservoir. The local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use can be a trough. The use of troughs for storing a reagent, a diluent, or some other treating agent for impending use enables an aspirating/dispensing device having a plurality of pipettes to aspirate and dispense the reagent,diluent, or other treating agent at a high rate of throughput. The controller can monitor the level of a liquid in (a) a local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for imminent use and the level of liquid in a (b) container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir. In the laboratory automation system described herein, the container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir can be a bottle. Other desirable features in the system include, but are not limited to, pump(s), valves, liquid level sensors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to handle a bulk liquid in a diagnostic analyzer, the system comprising:
 a first container having a bulk liquid;   a second container to dispense the bulk liquid;   a fluid conduit to fluidly couple the first container and the second container;   at least one of a valve or a pump operably coupled to the fluid conduit; and   a controller to control the at least one of the valve or the pump to transfer the bulk liquid from the first container to the second container.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a first aspirating/dispensing device to dispense the bulk liquid from the second container into a first reaction vessel of an automated diagnostic analyzer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a pre-treatment area where the first reaction vessel is disposed when the first aspirating/dispensing device is to dispense the bulk liquid into the first reaction vessel, the pre-treatment area being located above the first container of the bulk liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a waste container to receive liquid waste from the automated diagnostic analyzer, the pre-treatment area being located above the waste container. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a second aspirating/dispensing device to dispense the bulk liquid from the second container into a second reaction vessel of the automated diagnostic analyzer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second aspirating/dispensing devices are to aspirate the bulk liquid from the second container simultaneously. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a liquid level sensor to determine an amount of the bulk liquid that is in the second container. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid level sensor is communicatively coupled to the controller, and the controller is to control the at least one of the valve or the pump to transfer the bulk liquid from the first container to the second container when the liquid level sensor indicates the amount of bulk liquid in the second container is below a threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor coupled to an outer surface of the first container. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second container is a trough having an open top. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 sensing a level of bulk liquid in a reservoir disposed in an automated diagnostic analyzer;   operating, via a controller, a valve to transfer at least a portion of the bulk liquid from a container to the reservoir, the container being fluidly coupled to the reservoir via a fluid conduit, the valve operably coupled to the fluid conduit; and   operating, via the controller, the valve to transfer at least a portion of the bulk liquid from the reservoir to a waste container or drain.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein sensing the level of the bulk liquid in a reservoir comprises sensing the level of the bulk liquid via a sensor coupled to an outside of the reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises three sensors, including a low level sensor to indicate when the bulk liquid is at or below a low threshold of a capacity of the reservoir, a full level sensor to indicate when the bulk liquid is at or above a high threshold of the capacity of the reservoir and an overfill sensor to indicate when the bulk liquid is at or near 100% of the capacity of the reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reservoir comprises a trough having an open top.