Method and system for sample aliquot storage

Abstract

A method and system of sample aliquot storage for automated immunochemistry or chemistry instruments are provided. The method and system provide a sample aliquot storage unit having a sample storage wheel for storing sample vessels containing sample aliquots in a chilled enclosed environment, which are accessible by both a sample pipettor of a sample aliquoting station and a pick-and-place gripper. The pick-and-place gripper transports the sample vessels containing sample aliquots to multiple independent reagent pipetting stations respectively for sample aspiration of subsequent assay, and thereafter transports the sample vessels containing remaining sample aliquots back to the sample storage wheel to be stored in the chilled environment for reflex testing. When all the tests are completed, the pick-and-place gripper transports the sample vessels to a waste storage area.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for automated immunochemistry or chemistry analysis, comprising:
 a. a sample aliquot storage unit having a sample storage wheel; 
 b. a pick-and-place mechanism for transporting empty sample vessels from a bulk vessel feeder to said sample storage wheel; 
 c. a sample aliquoting station having a sample pipettor for aspirating samples from sample tubes loaded, and aliquoting samples to said empty sample vessels on said sample storage wheel; 
 d. said sample aliquot storage unit further having a chiller assembly for keeping said sample vessels containing sample aliquots in a chilled environment on said sample storage wheel; 
 e. said sample aliquot storage unit further having means for driving and controlling said sample storage wheel to position said sample vessels for access by said pipettor of said sample aliquoting station and said pick-and-place mechanism; 
 f. said pick-and-place mechanism transporting said sample vessels containing said sample aliquots to a multiplicity of independent reagent pipetting stations respectively for sample aspiration of subsequent assay; and 
 g. said pick-and-place mechanism also transporting said sample vessels containing remaining sample aliquots back to said sample storage wheel to be stored in said chilled environment for reflex testing. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises a top cover with openings for access of said sample vessels by both said pipettor of said sample aliquoting station and said pick-and-place mechanism. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises a cold plate for establishing and maintaining said chilled environment. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises insulation means for establishing and maintaining said chilled environment. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises cooler members for establishing and maintaining said chilled environment. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises a heatsink for establishing and maintaining said chilled environment. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said driving and controlling means of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises a stepper motor and an encoder to accurately position the storage wheel. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said sample aliquot storage unit further comprises a base. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an incubate and wash and read unit for performing said assay. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising another pick-and-place gripper for transporting vessels between said multiplicity of reagent pipetting stations and said incubate and wash and read unit. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said sample pipettor of said sample aliquoting station aspirates samples from sample tubes loaded by a sample presentation unit. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said sample pipettor of said sample aliquoting station aspirates samples from sample tubes presented by a lab automation system or an automated track conveyance system. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for automated immunochemistry or chemistry analysis, comprising:
 a. a sample aliquot storage unit having a sample storage wheel for storing sample vessels; 
 b. a sample aliquoting station having a sample pipettor for aliquoting samples to said sample vessels on said sample storage wheel; 
 c. said sample aliquot storage unit, further having a chiller assembly for keeping said sample vessels containing sample aliquots in a chilled environment on said sample storage wheel; 
 d. said sample aliquot storage unit, further having means for driving and controlling said sample storage wheel to position said sample vessels for access by said pipettor of said sample aliquoting station; 
 e. a pick-and-place mechanism for transporting said sample vessels containing said sample aliquots to a multiplicity of independent reagent pipetting stations respectively for sample aspiration of subsequent assay; and 
 f. said pick-and-place mechanism also transporting said sample vessels containing remaining sample aliquots back to said sample storage wheel to be stored in said chilled environment for reflex testing. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said sample pipettor of said sample aliquoting station aspirates samples from sample tubes loaded by a sample presentation unit. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said sample pipettor of said sample aliquoting station aspirates samples directly from sample tubes presented by lab automation systems or automated track conveyance systems. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said pick-and-place mechanism also transports empty sample vessels from a bulk vessel feeder to said sample storage wheel. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises a top cover with openings for access of said sample vessels by both said pipettor of said sample aliquoting station and said pick-and-place gripper. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises a cold plate for establishing and maintaining said chilled environment. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises insulation means for establishing and maintaining said chilled environment. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises cooler members for establishing and maintaining said chilled environment. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said chiller assembly of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises a heatsink for establishing and maintaining said chilled environment. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said driving and controlling means of said sample aliquot storage unit comprises a motor. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said sample aliquot storage unit further comprises a base. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus for automated immunochemistry or chemistry analysis, the apparatus comprising:
 a sample aliquot station having a sample aliquot station pipettor configured to aspirate a sample aliquot from a sample tube and dispense the sample aliquot into a sample aliquot vessel;   a sample aliquot storage unit configured to store the sample aliquot vessel and comprising a controlled environment enclosure, the sample aliquot storage unit having a driver configured to position the sample aliquot vessel for access to a transport system;   the transport system, the transport system configured to move the sample aliquot vessel from the sample aliquot storage unit to a pipetting location, the pipetting location is separate from the sample aliquot storage unit; and   a pipetting station having a pipetting station pipettor configured to aspirate, at the pipetting location, an amount of the sample aliquot from the sample aliquot vessel and to dispense the amount of the sample aliquot into a reaction vessel,   wherein the apparatus is an automated immunoassay instrument, and   wherein the controlled environment enclosure refrigerates the sample aliquot vessel.    
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the transport system is capable of moving the sample aliquot vessel from the pipetting location back to the sample aliquot storage unit.  
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the reaction vessel is a first reaction vessel, wherein the transport system is further configured to aspirate a second amount of the sample aliquot from the sample aliquot vessel to a second reaction vessel.  
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the transport system is further configured to move the sample aliquot vessel from the sample aliquot storage unit to one of a plurality of pipetting locations, the pipetting locations are separate from the sample aliquot storage unit.  
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the amount is a first amount, the pipetting station is a first pipetting station, the pipetting station pipettor is a first pipetting station pipettor, and the apparatus further comprises a second pipetting station having a second pipetting station pipettor.  
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first and second pipetting stations are configured to operate independently of each other.  
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 24, the apparatus further comprising a sample presentation unit configured to support the sample tube.  
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the sample aliquot storage unit includes a plurality of storage locations, the driver configured to position the sample aliquot vessel in one of the plurality of storage locations.  
     
     
       32. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the driver is a motor.  
     
     
       33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the transport system is a pick-and-place mechanism.  
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus further comprises a reagent pipetting station having a reagent station pipettor configured to aspirate a reagent and dispense the reagent.  
     
     
       35. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the sample tube is a first sample tube and the reaction vessel is a first reaction vessel, and the pipetting station is a first pipetting station and the pipetting station pipettor is a first pipetting station pipettor, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a sample presentation unit configured to support the first sample tube and a second sample tube; and   a second pipetting station comprising a second pipetting station pipettor configured to retrieve a reagent from a reagent pack and dispense the reagent into a second reaction vessel.    
     
     
       36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein
 the sample presentation unit, the sample aliquot station, the first pipetting station, and the second pipetting station are coupled together, and   wherein the first and second pipetting stations are configured to operate independently of each other.    
     
     
       37. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the sample aliquot is a first sample aliquot, the sample aliquot vessel is a first sample aliquot vessel, the reaction vessel is a first reaction vessel, the pipetting station is a first pipetting station, and the pipetting station pipettor is a first pipetting station pipettor, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 the first sample tube;   a second sample tube;   a sample presentation unit configured to support the first sample tube and the second sample tube;   wherein the sample aliquot station is further configured to aspirate a second sample aliquot from the second sample tube, and to dispense the second sample aliquot into a second reaction vessel;   the second reaction vessel containing the second sample aliquot; and   a second pipetting station configured to hold the second reaction vessel and comprising a second pipetting station pipettor,   wherein the first and second pipetting stations are coupled to the sample aliquot station.