公开(公告)号：US20240201211A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-20

申请号：US18592344

申请日：2024-02-29

Applicant: Gen-Probe Incorporated

Inventor： Rolf SILBERT ,  HongRan PENG ,  David Aaron BUSE ,  David H. COMBS

IPC: G01N35/04 ,  B01L3/00 ,  B01L9/06 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B65G47/90 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/10

CPC classification number: G01N35/04 ,  B01L3/5453 ,  B01L9/06 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B65G47/902 ,  G01N35/00584 ,  G01N35/0099 ,  G01N35/1079 ,  B01L2300/021 ,  B65G2201/0235 ,  B65G2203/044 ,  G01N2035/00752 ,  G01N2035/0406 ,  G01N2035/0494 ,  G01N2035/103

Abstract: A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument includes the steps of supporting a receptacle in a carriage, activating an electric motor to move the carriage between a first location and a second location of the instrument while the receptacle is supported by the carriage, applying a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first location to the second location, and releasing the clamping force from the receptacle as the carriage moves from the second location to the first location.

公开(公告)号：US20240168044A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-23

申请号：US18429318

申请日：2024-01-31

Applicant: Gen-Probe Incorporated

Inventor： Rolf SILBERT ,  HongRan PENG ,  David Aaron BUSE ,  David H. COMBS

IPC: G01N35/04 ,  B01L3/00 ,  B01L9/06 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B65G47/90 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/10

CPC classification number: G01N35/04 ,  B01L3/5453 ,  B01L9/06 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B65G47/902 ,  G01N35/00584 ,  G01N35/0099 ,  G01N35/1079 ,  B01L2300/021 ,  B65G2201/0235 ,  B65G2203/044 ,  G01N2035/00752 ,  G01N2035/0406 ,  G01N2035/0494 ,  G01N2035/103

Abstract: A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument includes the steps of supporting a receptacle containing a fluid on a carrier, transporting the carrier supporting the receptacle on a conveyor extending adjacent to each of a plurality of instruments, transferring the receptacle from the carrier to a puck supported on a carriage when the carriage is positioned at a first location, moving the carriage with the receptacle seated in the puck from the first location to a second location within an instrument of the plurality of instruments, and drawing at least a portion of the fluid from the receptacle seated in the puck into a tip associated with a fluid extraction device of the instrument when the carriage is positioned at the second location.

公开(公告)号：US20240142486A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-02

申请号：US18244638

申请日：2023-09-11

Applicant: Gen-Probe Incorporated

Inventor： Rolf SILBERT ,  David OPALSKY ,  David Aaron BUSE ,  Robert J. ROSATI ,  Olev TAMMER ,  Richard CAPELLA ,  Matthias MERTEN

IPC: G01N35/10 ,  B67B7/00 ,  G01F23/263 ,  G01N1/28 ,  G01N1/31 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/02 ,  G01N35/04

CPC classification number: G01N35/1004 ,  B67B7/00 ,  G01F23/265 ,  G01N1/28 ,  G01N1/31 ,  G01N35/00732 ,  G01N35/0099 ,  G01N35/025 ,  G01N35/04 ,  G01N35/1002 ,  G01N35/1016 ,  G01N35/1079 ,  C40B60/12 ,  G01N2035/00524 ,  G01N2035/1018 ,  G01N2035/1046

Abstract: A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to positon the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

公开(公告)号：US20240020496A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-18

申请号：US18476205

申请日：2023-09-27

Applicant: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED

Inventor： Norbert D. HAGEN ,  David OPALSKY ,  Rolf SILBERT

IPC: G06K7/10 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/02 ,  G06K7/14 ,  G06K19/06

CPC classification number: G06K7/10732 ,  G01N35/00732 ,  G01N35/026 ,  G06K7/10811 ,  G06K7/10861 ,  G06K7/1413 ,  G06K7/1417 ,  G06K7/1447 ,  G06K19/06028 ,  G06K19/06037 ,  G01N2035/00752 ,  G01N2035/00801 ,  G01N2035/00831 ,  G01N2035/00851 ,  G01N2035/0413

Abstract: A method of reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles. In the method, a sample rack is moved between a first position and a second position withing a housing, where the sample rack supports a plurality of sample receptacles, and each sample receptacle has a machine-readable label. An absolute position of the sample rack is measured as the sample rack moves between the first and second positions. An image of the machine-readable label associated with each sample receptacle is acquired as the sample rack moves between the first and second positions. Finally, the acquired image of each machine-readable label is decoded.

公开(公告)号：US20230176085A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-08

申请号：US17996923

申请日：2021-04-22

Applicant: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED

Inventor： Rolf SILBERT

IPC: G01N35/10 ,  G01N35/02

CPC classification number: G01N35/1009 ,  G01N35/02 ,  G01N2035/1025

Abstract: Automated systems and methods determine a level of fluid relative to a rim of a sample receptacle defining an open top of the sample receptacle. The systems and methods utilize a distance sensor to measure the distance between the rim of the sample receptacle and the surface of a fluid sample contained in the sample receptacle, where at least one of the sensor and the sample receptacle is moved relative to the other to enable the sensor to obtain a sequence of discrete measurements of distances between the sensor and the rim of the sample receptacle and between the sensor and the surface of the fluid sample. A controller processes an output signal from the sensor to determine a level of the fluid relative to the rim of the sample receptacle. The derivative of the sequence of discrete measurements may be used to identify the rim and the fluid surface in the output signal.

公开(公告)号：US20200320262A1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-08

申请号：US16905816

申请日：2020-06-18

Applicant: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED

Inventor： Norbert D. HAGEN ,  David OPALSKY ,  Rolf SILBERT

IPC: G06K7/10 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/02 ,  G06K7/14 ,  G06K19/06

Abstract: A method for reading machine-readable labels on a plurality of sample receptacles held by a sample rack. The sample rack is moved between first and second positions within a housing and a label reader is activated at each of a plurality of predetermined position between the first and second positions to read the machine-readable label of each of the plurality of sample receptacles.

公开(公告)号：US20200094598A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-26

申请号：US16696611

申请日：2019-11-26

Applicant: Gen-Probe Incorporated

Inventor： Rolf SILBERT ,  Robert J. ROSATI ,  David BUSE ,  Olev TAMMER ,  Matthias MERTEN

IPC: B41J29/38 ,  B41J3/407 ,  B41J2/32 ,  G01N35/00

Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.