WO2011036190A2

WO2011036190A2 - Device and method for processing biological samples

Info

Publication number: WO2011036190A2
Application number: PCT/EP2010/064011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sofia Ferreira Quartino; Francesc MASSABE MUÑOZ; Jaime JUAN MUÑOZ; Nuria Noguera Ferrer
Original assignee: Sener Ingenieria Y Sistemas, S. A.
Priority date: 2009-09-25
Filing date: 2010-09-23
Publication date: 2011-03-31
Also published as: WO2011036190A3; ES2371983B1; ES2371983A1

Abstract

The device comprises a conveyor (6) for conveying sample containers (14), a unit (8) for opening and closing the containers, and a unit (9) for collecting samples and conveying them to culture dishes (15), the containers (14) are conveyed by the conveyor (6) in two opposite directions, from a container opening and closing position (P1) to a sample collecting position (P2), and back to the container opening and closing position (P1). The method comprises conveying a container (14) to an opening and closing position (P1), opening it, conveying it to a sample collecting position (P2), collecting the sample and depositing it on a culture dish (15); conveying the container (14) back to the container opening and closing position (P1), and closing again the container (14).

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

The present invention relates to a device for processing biological samples, comprising means for conveying sample containers, a unit for opening and closing the containers, and a unit for collecting samples from the containers and for conveying them into culture dishes, and a method for processing the samples.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of machines and devices are known for automating processing of biological samples, such as the process of collecting biological samples from a series of containers, such as test tubes containing urine or faeces, and deposition and sowing of said samples on Petri dishes containing a suitable culture medium such as agar. A cultivation process for identifying and assessing bacterial colonies is subsequently carried out.

Some machines operate from test tubes that are fed open into the machine, which obviously results in a major constraint; in other ones, containers are fed closed , and the process carried out by the mach ine includes open ing containers, introducing a seed wire therein suitable for collecting a sample and carrying out sowing of a Petri dish with it, and closing the containers again. Different solutions exist in the prior art for opening and closing again the containers, for example, patent US661 7146 discloses a machine in which containers travel on a conveyor belt into a workstation where the container is held and rotated onto the belt by four rollers, while cap is picked and moved away the container, upward and sideways by a manipulator provided with a gripper.

One drawback of some of the known machines for processing biological samples is the use of manipulators or robots of the 'pick and place' type, that although they allow any kind of movement to be performed, and therefore the design is simplified and they are very versatile, they are not cost-effective.

In a known machine containers are placed one at a time on a conveyor belt by means of individual holders, and they are conveyed by the belt from an in put station to a workstation , and thence to an output station . In the workstation, a is container is opened and moved away with the cap through a first manipulator, so that a second manipulator can be moved to the location of the container and a seed wire is introduced therein for collecting a sample. Once the seed wire is taken by the second manipulator to the sowing position on the Petri dish, the first manipulator moves again with the cap until the position on the container is reached, and it is closed again. In this machine containers are fed one at a time and individual holders are required, which makes the container feeding operation to be difficult; in addition, the man ipulator that opens and closes the containers again is relatively complex, since it must al low passage to the seed wire and interference between the two manipulators should be avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a device for processing biological samples that allows at least some units to be simplified reducing the electromechanical elements, and thus reducing the cost of the device and its maintenance, for example by avoiding high cost manipulators such as pick and place robots, without substantially reducing the performance and versatility with respect to known machines. According to this object, a device for processing biological samples according to one aspect of the present invention comprises means for conveying sample containers, a unit for opening and closing the containers, and a unit for collecting samples from the containers and for conveying them into culture dishes, and it is characterized in that the conveyor means comprise a linear conveyor for conveying the containers successively in two opposite directions from a container opening and closing position to a sample collecting position, and back to the opening and closing position.

Containers are thus opened in one position, moved to another position for sample collection, and driven back to the opening position for placing the cap again: the unit for closing and opening the containers is capable of performing very simple movements, since it does not have to allow free passage to another unit to work with the container at the same position, and there is no need for the cap to be moved to another location in the device. For its part, the conveyor only has to hold the containers and move them successively in both directions, and this is easy if is implement as, for example, a conveyor belt.

Arrangement of different working units in the device is facil itated by the provision of two d ifferent positions, for opening/closing and for sample collection.

In short, the whole device can be simple and relatively cost-effective, both for installation and clean ing, maintenance, etc., without renou ncing to a satisfactory performance. In particular, the device cycle time need not to be significantly increased by the time required for moving the container from one position to another: in fact, the movement to bring a first container back from the sample collection position to the opening/closing position, and for opening a second container and move it to the sample collecting position can be performed while the other unit, which has collected a sample from the first container, places the sample on a culture dish, optionally carries out sowing on the dish, and finally changes or sterilizes a seed wire before going to collect the sample from the second container. The device may further comprise a container load unit located along the conveyor and a container unloading unit located along the conveyor.

Preferably, the linear conveyor is a conveyor belt on which the containers are held.

In embodiments of the invention, the device comprises modules for holding the containers during sample processing in the device. The modules are adapted for holding at least two containers, and preferably a plural ity of containers arranged in the direction of travel of the conveyor.

Support modules stabilize the containers and simplify the loading and unloading operations in the machine and, in general, conveyance of containers between different units; they are capable of further simplifying the mechanisms related to identification, opening and closing of containers.

In embodiments of the invention, the support modules comprise a container body with at least two parts, movable to each other to define a container release position, where containers are received with free play between the two parts of the body, and a container holding position, where containers are trapped between the two parts. In addition, the two parts of the module body may have a recess for each container, the recesses of one part facing the recesses of the other part to define two housings for the containers therebetween, and the module having means for hold ing the two parts in the container release position in the absence of external forces.

In order to accommodate the containers with increased safety, the recesses of the two parts may be provided with half-bushings made of a flexible material. According to advantageous embodiments, the support modules are adapted to be conveyed by the linear conveyor: Thus the containers can be processed while in the modules, from their loading until their unloading.

Preferably the device comprises, in correspondence with the opening and closing unit, means for acting on each module for holding the containers and going from a container release position to a holding container position; in this way, the opening and closing operations can be carried out safely and stability without removing the containers from the module and with no need for directly holding the container.

The device comprises, in certain embodiments of the invention , loading means of the modules on the linear conveyor. In one embodiment, these means comprise a first module storage tray, where modules are stored side by side in a direction parallel to the linear conveyor, and a mechanism for pushing the modules from the first tray into said conveyor.

The device further comprises, in some embodiments of the invention, means for unloading the modules from the linear conveyor; in this case the unloading means may comprise a second module storage tray in which the modules are stored side by side in a position paral lel to the d irection of the linear conveyor, and a mechanism for pushing the modules from the conveyor into the second tray.

Preferably the opening and closing unit comprises sensor means for locating a particular container from a module for holding the containers in the opening and closing position.

Also preferably the unit for collecting samples from containers and their conveyance into culture d ishes comprises sensor means for locating a particular container from a module for holding the containers in the collecting sample of position.

In both un its the sensor means advantageously comprise sensors for detecting the position of the module for holding the containers along the path of the modules, which in one embodiment they include a plurality of sensors equal in number to that of the containers that a module is capable to withstand, located along the path of the modules and arranged to detect a label associated with the modules.

In some embodiments, the device of the invention comprises a code reader for detecting an identification code associated with each container, the code reader being arranged in correspondence with the opening and closing position.

In embodiments of the invention, the unit for opening and closing containers comprises a container cap gripper, placed in the opening and closing position of the device, said gripper being provided with at least one opening and closing movement for being able of releasing or holding a cap, and a vertical movement; the cap gripper may be further provided with a rotating movement around a vertical axis. It is envisaged that in some embodiments of the device the unit for collecting samples from the containers and conveying them into culture dishes comprises a manipulator for at least one seed wire, said manipulator being provided with means for moving the seed wire between the sample collecting position, in which a free end of the seed wire is introduced within a sample container, and a position of the sample being deposited on a culture dish, where the free end of the seed wire comes into contact with the culture dish.

According to one embodiment, the manipulator is suitable for holding at least a first seed wire and a second seed wire different from the first one, and it is provided with means for placing a seed wire in an active or working condition and any other seed wire in an inactive condition.

The fact that the manipulator is capable of working with two different seed wires and placing each one in an active or inactive positions makes it possible to work with samples of different types in the same batch, by simply programming the device such that the manipulator places the seed wire in an active position, depending on the identification of each individual container.

Preferably the means for placing a seed wire in an active or working condition and any other seed wire in an inactive condition comprise a head rotating around a horizontal axis for holding the seed wires perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the head.

In embodiments in which reusable seed wires are used, the manipulator is fu rther provided with means for moving at least one seed wi re to a sterilization station.

Advantageously, the manipulator for the seed wire is further provided with means for moving the seed wire free end on the culture dish according to at least one sowing movement. The manipulator is preferably suitable for moving the free end of the seed wire on the culture dish by a plurality of sowing movements.

It may be desirable in some embodiments that the device comprises a platform with rotation means for holding a culture dish in said position of depositing a sample on a dish.

In some embodiments, the device comprises first storage means for storing blank culture dishes, and means for feeding such dishes from the first storage means to the position of depositing a sample on a dish.

Analogously, in some embodiments the device comprises second storage means for storing culture dishes on which a sample has been deposited, and means for removing said dishes from the position of depositing a sample on a dish to the second storage means.

These storage means for blank dishes and dishes with sample advantageously comprise generally cylindrical housing, adapted to rotate around its axis, and having a series of recesses defined in its periphery, each being suitable for accommodating a plurality of stacked culture dishes.

According to further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for processing biological samples comprising the steps of: a) loading sample containers on a conveyor,

b) conveying a container to an opening and closing position,

c) opening the container that is on the conveyor in the opening and closing position,

d) conveying the open container to a sample collecting position,

e) collecting a sample from the open container that is on the conveyor in the sample collecting position and depositing it on a culture dish;

f) conveying the container back to the opening and closing position, g) closing again the container that is on the conveyor in the opening and closing position, and

h) unloading the container from the conveyor.

In the event of using modules for holding the containers, the method for processing biological samples comprises the steps of: i) loading on a conveyor belt a support module with a plurality of sample containers,

j) conveying the module to an opening and closing position,

k) opening a container of the module,

I) conveying the module with the container open to a sample collecting position, m) collecting a sample from the container and placing it on a culture dish; n) conveying the module back to the opening and closing position,

o) closing the container again,

p) repeating steps j) to o) with the other containers of the module, and q) unloading the conveyor module once all the containers being held have been processed.

According to one embodiment, at least for step k) the module for holding the containers goes from a container release position, where containers are received with free play in the module, to a container holding position, where containers are trapped in the module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are merely non-limiting examples to facilitate the understanding of the present specification. In said drawings:

Fig ure 1 a is a general perspective view of a device accord ing to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1 b is a plan view of the device in Figure 1 a;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the linear conveyor and the unit for loading the container modules in the conveyor;

Figure 3 is a large-scale view of a tray of the unit for loading containers;

Figures 4 and 5 large-scale views of a module for holding containers, and one of its parts, respectively;

Figure 6 is a large-scale perspective view of the unit for opening and closing the containers; Figures 7a, 7b are diagrams showing the operation of the sensor system; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tool with two different seed wires; Figure 9a is a perspective view of the manipulator and the sample collecting area; Figure 9b is a plan view of the manipulator;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the inoculation and sowing area; Figure 1 1 is a view of the blank Petri dish storage media; and

Figure 12 is a view of the sown Petri dish storage media.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 a shows a device according to one embodiment of the invention, in this case intended to carry out sowing in Petri dishes from container tubes with samples of urine and/or faeces.

In general terms, the process that the device has to perform in this case includes collecting a sample, immersing within the tube or other container a seed wire adapted to urine or feces, inoculating a Petri dish with this sample, that is, depositing the sample on a Petri dish containing a suitable culture medium (e.g . agar), and carrying out sowing to spread the sample on the dish. Sowing consists in rubbing the seed wire with the sample onto the dish following a given pattern; depending on the pattern, the sowing is called quadrant, radiant, T-shaped, continuous, etc.

Containers have to be further conveyed in the device and other operations have to be performed, such as opening and subsequent closing of each container, identification of each container by reading its bar code or the like, sterilizing or seed wire replacement between one sample and the following one, feeding and handling of the Petri dishes, labeling or identification of each Petri dish that has been sown so that it is associated with the container from which the sample comes, etc.

The device in Figure 1 a comprises a bedplate 1 with a working surface 2, on which the sample are collected from container tubes and where sowing of the Petri dishes is performed. Beneath the working surface 2 the housing further forms compartments 3 and 4 intended for storing the blank Petri dishes and the sown Petri dishes, respectively. Suitable fairings and gates are further provided in the bedplate 1 to isolate the working area and compartments in order to maintain the necessary conditions of hygiene and to visualize the process.

The device includes a programming and control unit 5, display means and suitable data input means.

The following is mounted on the working surface 2, which is also shown in the plan view of Figure 1 b: - a linear conveyor 6 for moving the containers along a direction of travel on the working surface 2;

- a loading unit for feeding the containers 7 containing samples of urine and/or faeces to the conveyor 6;

- a container opening and closing area for removing the cap of each container and then placing it again, with a corresponding opening and closing unit 8;

- a sample collecting area with a sample manipulator 9, for collecting the samples from the containers and being capable of inoculating/sowing the culture dishes therewith;

- an unloading unit 10 for removing the containers from the conveyor once the samples have been processed;

- an inoculation and sowing area, where depositing of samples on Petri dishes is carried out, and where means 1 1 for handl ing the dishes are provided. Three positions P1 , P2 and P3 have been depicted in Figure 1 b in which, as explained below, operations for opening and closing a container, collecting of a sample from a container and depositing of sample on a Petri dish, are carried out respectively. Each of the elements in the working surface 2 is described in more detail below. Linear conveyor 6 and loading charging unit 7 are shown Figure 2. Conveyor 6 comprises a conveyor belt 61 driven by a reversible motor 62, and it is provided with a longitudinal guide 63 for appropriately driving the containers. The loading unit 7 comprises a tray 71 with a partially open bottom, on which a series of modules 13 are arranged side by side, as shown in Figure 2, each of wh ich holds a plurality of sample containers 14 each having a corresponding cap; tray 71 is manually loaded with the modules of containers to be processed, and it is then placed on the device, in the position shown in Figure 2.

The loading unit 7 has an electric actuator 72 with a pusher 73 for pushing the modules 13 until one of them is arranged on the conveyor belt 61 against the guide 63. Actuator 72 will be usually fitted under the working surface 2 (not shown in Figure 2), which will be provided with a suitable opening for pusher 73.

Once tray 71 is then placed in position, first module 13 is pushed of the tray 71 on the conveyor 6 by loading unit 7, which will move the module (initially, rightward in the figures) to the opening and closing unity 8 for starting the processing of containers of the first module. Once the containers have been processed and the conveyor module 6 has been pushed out, the loading operation with the next module 13 of the tray 71 will be repeated. The tray 71 comprises, as shown in the detailed view of Figure 3, a bottom 74 with an opening 75, fixed walls on three sides, a front cover 76 which serves for preventing the modules to fall over as the tray is manipulated and conveyed by an operator, and that can be pivoted to be parallel to the base and to allow the output of the modules 1 3, and a guide 77 for guiding the modules 13 during their displacement.

The structure of the modules 13 will be described below according to one embodiment of the invention, with reference to figures 4 and 5. Each module 1 3 comprises an elongated body formed of two parts 1 31 a, 1 31 b having a series of semi-cylindrical recesses 132 (see Figure 5), with those of on e pa rt faci ng those of th e oth er, su ch th at a series of compartments for the containers are defined between the two parts, half- bushings 133 made of a flexible material are arranged in the recesses 132.

Therefore the module is capable of holding multiple containers 14 (seven in the example in the Figures), which are aligned in the longitudinal direction thereof that is, as seen in Figure 2, the direction of travel of the conveyor 6.

The two pieces 131 a, 131 b are movable to each other, so that they can be slightly moved forward and away such two different positions can be assumed successively by the body of the module 13: a container release position, where containers 14 are received with free play between the two parts 131 a and 131 b of the body, and a container holding position, where the containers are trapped between the two parts. The module has the necessary constructive elements so that the two parts 1 31 a and 1 31 b form a stable body, such as screws 1 36 only partially threaded, with the head received within part 131 b and threaded on part 131 a, such that part 131 b can slide along the unthreaded portion of the screw 136; and also springs 137 or like parts for keeping them slightly apart from each other, so that with the system at rest, in the absence of external forces, the module 13 is in the container release position, facilitating the insertion and withdrawal of containers therefrom.

As shown in the figures, the parts 131 a, 131 b forming the body have a cutout at one end 134, intended for cooperating with the guide 77 of the tray 71 so that the modules are properly moved during loading.

Figure 6 shows in general view of the un it 8 for open ing and closing containers. Unit 8 is located along conveyor 6, in an opening and closing area adjacent to the area for loading the modules to the conveyor.

Th is un it incl udes a series of sensors, intended to allow the different containers of the module to be successively placed in an opening and closing position for being individually processed.

First, unit 8 comprises seven inductive sensors 81 arranged along the path of the modules 13 in this area and intended to detect a small metal plate 135 (see Figure 4) that is associated with the modules 13 by way of a label, for determining the position of the module in the area and therefore determining which is the container 14v that is located in the opening and closing position. The term "label" is used in the present specification to denote any type of item th at is provid ed for be ing detected by a sensor, a nd i n oth er embodiments its particular shape will depend on the sensor used. For example, the label could be formed of a printed mark to be detected by an optical sensor.

Figures 7a, 7b show how the inductive sensor system 81 is operated for successively placing the containers of a module in the opening and closing position: figures are plan views that diagrammatically show the arrangement of the opening and closing position P1 in the unit 8, the seven inductive sensors 81 numbered as S1 , S2, ... S7, and the successive positions of a module 13 with seven containers C1 , C2, ... C7.

When one module 13 has been loaded on the conveyor 6 and is advanced to an opening and closing unit, sensor S1 in the sensor system is activated . When label 135 of module 13 is detected by sensor S1 movement is stopped (Figure 7a); as the active sensor is S1 , the system knows that the container in the opening and closing position P1 is the first module, the container C1 .

Once the container C1 has been opened, the module 1 3 with the opened container C1 is moved to the sample manipulator 9 (rightward in the figure) for processing the sample of C1 , as it will be explained later. After processing, the module 13 is moved by the conveyor 6 in the opposite direction, back towards the opening and closing unit. Since sensor S1 is active, the module 1 3 will be placed back in the position of Figure 7a, where the cap of the container C1 will be placed again.

Subsequently, sensor S1 is deactivated and sensor S2 is activated, and conveyor 6 is advanced with the module 13 back rightward, until the sensor label 135 is detected by S2: At this time the module 13 is stopped again, and the second container C2 will be the one opposite the opening and closing position P1 , as shown in Figure 7b. The cycle is repeated, activating sensors S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, successively until all containers in a module have been opened, processed, and closed again. Referring back to Figure 6, unit 8 likewise comprises a sensor 82, for example a capacitive sensor or an optical sensor arranged to confirm the presence of a container 14 in the module compartment that is in the opening and closing position. Where the presence of a container is detected by sensor 82, which would mean that one of the compartments of module 1 3 is empty, the inductive sensor 81 would at this time be deactivated and the next one would be activated, in order to advance the module one position.

On the other hand, also in correspondence with the opening and closing position, a code reader 83 is provided, for example a bar code reader for detecting the identification code that is associated with each tube or container that accurately identifies the sample contained in the tube. For the sake of clarity, the holder of reader 83 on the bedplate is not shown in the figures.

For removing the caps from the containers, and then place them again, unit 8 has a manipulator 84 with a cap gripper 85; gripper 85 can be moved along a vertical direction, it can be opened and closed to hold or release the cap and it can be rotated around the vertical axis.

Finally, next to the linear conveyor 6, and on the opposite side of the guide 63 an actuator 86 is provided, for example an electric or pneumatic cylinder, suitable for acting on the module 13 that is in the opening and closing area and making it to go from the container release position into a container holding or locking position. Holding of the containers will be necessary, for example, when removing the cap of a container.

Thus, the unit 8 is ready to perform the following sequence of operations when the module is advanced and a container is stopped at the opening and closing position P1 : - the presence of a container is confirmed by sensor 82;

- the gripper 85 is moved downward to reach the cap that is on the container and closed to hold the cap, - the gripper 85 is moved u pward , pul l ing the cap and the conta iner associated therewith until the container is placed in front of the code reader 83,

- the gripper 85 performs a rotation of 360° such that the code of the container is detected by the code reader 83,

- the gripper 85 is moved downward until the container is received in the module 13 again,

- the module 13 is pressed by the actuator 86 against the guide 63 of the conveyor 6, so that the module 13 is brought to a container locking position, - the gripper 85 performs a lifting and rotating movement, it detaches the cap from the container, and it is stopped,

- the actuator 86 is removed, releasing the containers in the module.

Then, the module 13 is driven by the conveyor 6 with the container opened to the sample manipulator 9, it waits for the sample to be collected from the inside of the container (as it will be explained below), and the module is driven back to the open ing and closing unit 8. When the module 1 3 is retracted and the open container is stopped again at the position P1 , the following sequence of operations are performed by the unit 8:

- the actuator 86 presses the module again, which is brought into a container locking position,

- the gripper 85 performs a downward and rotating movement, placing the cap on the container again,

- the gripper 85 is opened to release the cap, it is raised and stopped.

Sample manipulator 9 will be described below, that is the unit for collecting samples from the containers, in a collecting sample area, and then conveyed to Petri dishes so that the culture medium is inoculated and sowing is carried out in an inoculation and sowing area. The manipulator 9 is shown as a whole in Figures 9a and 9b.

First, it should be noted that collection of the sample from a container and inoculation and sowing on a Petri dish is carried out by using a tool referred to as 'seed wire' (figure 8). The seed wire generally includes a wire forming a small ring at its end, which is immersed into the sample and that collects a small amount of fluid in the ring by surface tension. Reusable seed wires are sterilized after each use in order to avoid contamination between samples.

Therefore, the main function of the sample manipulator 9 is to hold a seed wire and drive it into the different positions (collecting, sowing, sterilizing) and perform the necessary movements for sowing.

In the embodiment shown, two seed wires, different from each other, are simultaneously fitted in the sample manipulator 9, such as one suitable for faeces and another suitable for urine. For each container from wh ich a sample is to be collected, and depending on the type of sample to be collected, a seed wire is placed by the manipulator in an active or working condition and the other seed wire in an inactive condition.

Figure 8 shows a tool 90 that includes two seed wires 91 and 92, the first one being suitable for samples of urine and the second one being suitable for samples of faeces. Enlarged details in figure allow the difference between them to be appreciated. Seed wires 91 and 92 protrude in opposite directions from a common base having means for fixing it to the manipulator 9. The manipulator 9 has a head 94 that can be displaced by the three axes X, Y, Z, and rotated around a horizontal axis (Y axis). The tool 90 is fixed to head 94, with the seed wires 91 , 92 perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the head. More specifically, in the particular embodiment shown, the manipulator 9 comprises: a first horizontal guide 95, fixed to the bedplate, along which a carriage 96 can be moved (X direction), a second guide 97, mounted on the carriage 96, that is horizontal and perpendicular to the first guide 95, along which a further carriage 98 can be moved (Y direction); and a third guide 99, fitted on the carriage 98, which is vertical, along which the head 94 can be moved (Z direction).

Head rotation is indicated by arrow F3 in the enlarged detail visible in Figure 10.

Thanks to the three displacements and the rotation of the head, the manipulator 9 is capable of performing all the necessary movements, including a plural ity of different sowing movements on the Petri d ish , depending on the needs of each case.

The sterilizer 130 for the seed wire is located in the vicinity of the manipulator 9, which can be e.g. an infrared sterilizing incinerator. The active seed wire with which a dish has been sown is placed horizontal by manipulator 9, and its end is introduced within the sterilizer 130 during the necessary time.

The sample collecting area with the collecting position P2, where the seed wire is introduced into the containers that have been previously opened, is located along the path of the linear conveyor 6, downstream the opening and closing area (leftward in Figures 1 a and 1 b).

Seven inductive sensors 120, analogous to sensors 81 in the opening and closing area and which are enabled and disabled in the same way, are provided in this area; if, for example, the first container C1 of a module 13 has been opened, sensors 120 in the collecting area are configured such that the module is stopped when container C1 is located in the collecting position P2. When the module 13 is stopped with an opened container in the collecting sample position P2, the manipulator 9 then performs the following sequence of operations:

- keeping the seed wire vertical, the head 94 is moved downward for inserting the free end of the seed wire into the container, and it is risen again,

- with displacements according to X, Y, Z axes, and a rotation of the head 94 for tilting the seed wire, the free end of the seed wire is moved with the sample by manipulator 9 to a sample inoculation and sowing position P3, where a Petri dish 15 is provided having a culture medium

- the free end of the seed wire is brought into contact by manipulator 9 with the culture media that is on the dish, and a programmed sowing movement with the seed wire is performed;

- the seed wire is raised again by head 94 and it is rotated for being placed horizontal;

- the seed wire is moved by the head 94 to the sterilizer 130 and it is inserted therein the necessary time,

- the seed wire is withdrawn by the head 94 from the sterilizer, and it is rotated for placing one of the seed wires in an active position for collecting the next sample.

The information about the seed wire 91 or 92 that has to be placed in an active position of the container code reading which is carried out in the opening and closing area and commands the movements of the manipulator 9 accordingly is of course derived by the device control unit

Once all the containers of a module 13 have been processed, the module is placed into a suitable position by the conveyor 6 so that the module 13 is removed form the conveyor by the unloading unit 10 (see Figures 1 a, 1 b).

The unloading unit includes a tray 101 , equal the above described above tray 71 , and an actuator 102, such as an electric or pneumatic cylinder, which comes into contact with the side wall of module 13 above the guide 63 of the conveyor. The module 1 3 is pushed by actuator 1 02 out of the conveyor 6 until it is received in tray 101 , while pushing at the same time the modules already in the tray. On the working surface 2, on the left hand in Figure 1 b, an area of depositing a sample on a dish, or inoculation and sowing area, is defined, which can be seen in Figure 10, in which the head 94 of the manipulator 9 is further shown with seed wires 91 and 92. A position P3 of sample depositing on a dish, or position of inoculation and sowing on a dish, is defined in this area which is the position where Petri dishes 15 are subsequently placed so that the seed wires 91 or 92 carry out the corresponding operations on the dish15.

In the vicinity of position P3 means 1 1 for handling the dishes 15, and two openings 21 and 22 formed on the working surface 2 are provided: the first open ing is for feeding of blank Petri dishes 1 5 from the compartment 3 located beneath of the working surface 2 (see Figure 1 a), and the second opening is for exiting the already sown Petri dishes 15 into the housing 4 that is also located below the working surface 2. The means 1 1 for handling the dishes comprise a gripper 1 1 1 , which can be opened and closed, rotated around a horizontal axis (see arrow F1 ) for being raised and rotated around a vertical axis (see arrow F2) for moving a dish from one point to another point in the inoculation area.

Blank Petri dishes 15 are stored in storage means, which will be described later, within compartment 3; from these storage media a dish 15 is pushed upward until passing through an opening 21 ; gripper 1 1 1 is then closed taking the dish and it is rotated without being raised around the vertical axis (arrow F1 ), driving the dish towards one side by making it to slide on the working surface 2, for placing it in the sample depositing position P3, and it is subsequently rotated around the horizontal axis (arrow F2) for raising the cover of dish 15 and leaving the dish open.

Dish 15 is thus ready for its sowing by the manipulator 9 with the seed wire 91 or 92. Once the dish 15 is sown, the gripper is moved down again for placing the cover back, and the dish is then pushed, with a subsequent rotation around the vertical axis to the outlet open ing 22. An exit ramp is provided in correspondence with opening 22, which will be described further on. It is also envisaged that when the dish 15 is in the sample depositing position P3 an identification code is printed thereon, or a label having an identification code is provided thereon, in order to be able to associate the dish with the particular sample and/or the container from which it comes; alternatively, the dishes could bear a printed code before being fed into the device, and one container would be associated with a corresponding Petri dish by the device control unit through a software.

In order to allow various sowing patterns to be performed on the dishes 15 in a simple way, it is also envisaged that in the sample depositing position P3 a rotating platform or support (not shown) is provided for imparting rotation to dishes 15, so that sowing could be performed by combining a rotation of the dish with movements of the seed wire.

The storage media 16, 17 of the Petri dishes in compartments 3 and 4 of the device, beneath the working surface 2, are described below with reference to figures 1 1 and 12. In figure 1 1 , the means 16 for storing blank dishes comprise an input rotor 1 61 and a d ish elevator 1 62. The figure also shows the g ripper 1 1 1 for handling the dishes as described above, but the working surface 2 with the opening 21 for passage of the dishes has been omitted for the sake of clarity.

As it can be seen , the rotor 161 has a generally cylindrical shape, with a series of recesses 1 63 in its periphery, in which Petri dish columns are stored, one above another; there may be for example 1 8 d ishes in each column. A motor (not shown) allows the rotor 161 to be rotated about its vertical axis, for placing successively one of the columns below the opening 22 of the working surface 2.

The base of the recesses 163 of the rotor is partially open, to allow passage to a finger 164 associated with elevator 162, which performs the pushing of the dish column 15 upward, until the first dish is passed through the opening 22 to reach the height of the working surface 2 so that the gripper 1 1 1 is placed in the sample depositing position.

For its part, Figure 12 shows the means 17 for storing already sown dishes, comprising an output rotor 171 , an elevator 172 and a dish down ramp 175.

The output rotor 1 71 is configured similarly to the input rotor 1 61 , with recesses for receiving dish columns, but in this case the base of the recesses 173 is fully open, so that the already sown Petri dishes may be fed from the bottom. One-way retaining means are provided in the wall of the recesses 1 73 to al low th e d ishes to be pushed u pwards in the recesses 1 73 overcoming the retention means, but instead not being able of overcoming the retention means in the opposite direction, such that they become retained in the recess, resting on the retaining means. The retaining means may consist for example of pivots 1 76 perpend icular to the side wal l of the recesses, which can be elastically bent up to let the dishes move upward.

Dish output ramp 175 is arranged to collect the dishes 15 at the level of the working surface 2, through opening 22, and drive them by gravity to the base of one of the recesses 1 73 of the rotor 171 . The end of the ramp 175 (not visible in the figure) has its bottom partially open such that a finger 174 associated with the elevator 172 is allowed to pass therethrough, driving the dishes up to the interior of the recess 173 pushing the entire dish column until they were received above the retention means.

Alternatively, the output of the dishes may be also carried out without a ramp 175, with an operation reverse to that performed for the input: that is, causing the finger 174 of the elevator 172 to keep the entire dish column in one of the recesses 1 73 with the top dish just below the working surface so that the outgoing dish was deposited thereon, and then to descend so that the latter dish is just below the working surface; in this case the base of the recess 173 would not be entirely open, but analogous to that of the recesses of the input rotor in order to hold the dish column once it is full.

In cases where it is desired to work with, for example, batches of containers including both samples of urine and samples of faeces which in general require different culture media in Petri dishes, it will be enough to place Petri dish columns with a first culture media in some of the of the recesses 163 of the input rotor 161 , and placing them, once they are sown, in some of the recesses 173 of the output rotor 171 , and place the Petri dish columns with a second different culture medium in the other recess 163 of the input rotor 161 , and once they are sown place them in the other recesses 173 of the output rotor 171 .

When a bar code of a particular container of the batch is read, with a sample to be processed, the type of sample is set by the control unit, the manipulator 9 is operated for placing the su itable seed wire 91 or 92 in one active position, and the rotating motors of the input rotor 161 and the output rotor 171 are also operated to place them with the suitable dish columns to that sample shown in correspondence with the elevator 1 62 and the ramp 1 75, respectively.

The whole method carried out by the device is described below.

For preparing the device, one tray 71 of modules 13 is filled with containers of samples of urine and/or faeces to be processed by an operator is placed in position on the loading unit 7, an input rotor 161 with blank Petri dishes and an empty output rotor 171 are placed in the suitable compartments 3 and 4; and the necessary parameters are programmed in the programming and control unit 5.

Then the following process is carried out essentially in the device: - the first module 13 is pushed on the conveyor 6 by the loading unit 7;

- the module 13 is conveyed by the conveyor 6 to the opening and closing unit 8, where the bar code of the first container is read and the container is opened; meanwhile a first blank Petri dish is supplied from the input rotor 161 to the inoculation and sowing position P3;

- the module 13 is conveyed by the conveyor 6 to the sample collecting unit 9, where the sample is collected from the open container by the head 94 through a seed wire 91 or 92, and the Petri dish is sown therewith;

- the module 13 is conveyed by the conveyor back to the opening and closing un it 8, where the first container is closed again and the conveyor 6 is advanced to process the next container; and meanwhile the seed wire is conveyed by the head 94 to the sterilizer 130, and the first sown Petri dish is removed from the working surface 2 and it is stored in the output rotor 171 ;

- the same operations are repeated for the rest of the containers that are present in the module 13, such that a Petri dish is sown for each container; - the module is pushed by the unloading unit 10 from the conveyor 101 to a tray;

- operations are repeated to the next module of the tray 71 .

At the end of the process, the tray 101 with the already processed containers and the output rotor with the sown Petri d ishes will be removed by the operator.

In addition to described steps, the device will of course perform the rest of the operations required such as properly enabling and disabling sensors 81 and 120, identifying sown Petri dishes, etc.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, the skilled man will be able to modify items and details of the device according to the needs of each case.

For example, although reusable seed wires that are sterilized from sampling to sampl ing are employed in the device according to the described embodiment, in other embodiments seed wires of the disposable type could be used by the device, in which case the device would be provided with a new seed wire dispenser and an used seed wire tank instead of a sterilizer, and manipulator 9 would be appropriate for the corresponding operations.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been described in which Petri dishes are inoculated and sown, having a culture media, with samples of urine or feces, in order to perform cultures of the bacteria, a device with the essential characteristics of the present invention could be also used for other types of biological sample processing : for example, it could be used for conducting antibiograms of the type used for determining sensitivity of a bacterial colony to an antibiotic or group of antibiotics: in this case sample containers would contain bacteria samples to be studied, and the Petri dishes would include the antibiotics, but the process conducted by the sample processing device would be similar.

It is also noted that modules for holding a plurality of containers, preferably al igned , with the characteristic of having two moving parts defining a container release position and a container holding position, and particularly modules having the described configuration, could also be used in other type of sample processing devices, having u n its for open ing and closing containers and means for collecting and conveying samples to culture dishes, and any type of conveyors for moving the modules to necessary working positions. The units for loading and unloading modules and other elements of the machine described and claimed in the present specification could also be further used by this processing device.

In the same way, in a sample processing device provided with a unit for opening and closing containers, a unit for collecting and conveying samples to culture dishes, and any type of conveyor to move containers to the different working positions, a suitable head could be used in the collection and transfer unit adapted for holding at least a first seed wire and a second seed wire different from the first one, and provide means for placing a seed wire in an active or working condition and any other seed wire in an inactive condition. The two seed wires could be mounted in the manner as described in connection with Figure 8.

Claims

1 . Device for processing biolog ical samples comprising means (6) for conveying sample containers (14), a unit (8) for opening and closing the containers, and a unit (9) for collecting samples from the containers (14) and conveying them to culture dishes (1 5), characterized in that the conveyor means comprise a linear conveyor (6) adapted to convey the containers (14) successively in two opposite directions, from a container opening and closing position (P1 ) to a sampling position (P2), and back to the opening and closing position (P1 ).

2. Device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein it further comprises a unit (7) for loading containers (14) located along the conveyor (6).

3. Device as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, wherein it further comprises a unit (7) for unloading containers (14) located along the conveyor (6).

4. Device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the linear conveyor (6) is a conveyor belt (61 ) on which the containers (14) are held.

5. Device as claimed in any of the preced ing claims, wherein it further comprises modules (1 3) for holding the containers (14) during the sample processing in the device.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein each support module (13) is adapted for holding at least two containers (14).

7. Device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the modules (13) are adapted for holding a plurality of containers (14) aligned in the direction of travel of the conveyor.

8. Device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the modules (1 3) for holding the containers (14) comprise a body with at least two parts (131 a, 131 b), movable to each other to define a container release position, where containers (14) are received with free play between the two parts (1 31 a, 131 b) of the body, and a container holding position, in which the containers are trapped between the two parts (131 a, 131 b).

9. Device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the two parts (131 a, 131 b) of the module body have a recess (132) for each container (14), the recesses (132) of one part (131 a) facing the recesses (132) of the other part (131 b) to define compartments for the containers (14) therebetween, and the module (13) having means for holding the two parts in the container (14) release position in the absence of external forces.

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the recesses (132) of the two parts (131 a, 131 b) are fitted with half-bushings (133) of flexible material.

1 1 . Device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the support modules (13) are adapted to be conveyed by the linear conveyor (6).

1 2. Device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 1 1 , wherein it includes, in correspondence with the opening and closing unit (8), means (86) for acting on each module (1 3) for hood ing containers and causing the container release position to go to the container holding position.

13. Device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 12, wherein it comprises means (7) for loading the modules (13) on the linear conveyor (6).

14. Device as claimed in claim 1 3, wherein the means (7) for loading the modules comprise a first tray (71 ) for storage of modules (13), in which the modules are stored side by side in a direction parallel to the linear conveyor (6), and a drive mechanism (72, 73) of the modules (1 3) from the first tray (71 ) to said conveyor (6).

15. Device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 14, wherein it comprises means (10) for unloading the modules (13) from linear conveyor (6.)

16. Device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means (10) for unloading the modules (1 3) comprise a second tray (101 ) for storage of modules (1 3), in which the modules are stored side by side in a direction parallel to the linear conveyor (6), and a drive mechanism (102) of the modules from the conveyor (6) to the second tray (101 ).

1 7. Device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 1 6, wherein the opening and closing u n it (8) com prises sensor means (81 ) for placing a particular container (14) from a module (13) for holding containers in the opening and closing position (P1 ).

1 8. Device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 1 7, wherein the unit (9) for collecting samples from the containers (14) and conveying them to culture dishes (15) comprises sensor means (120) for placing a particular container (14) of a module (13) for holding containers in the sampling position (P2).

19. Device as claimed in any of claims 17 or 18, wherein the sensor means (1 20) includes sensors for detecting the position of the module (1 3) for holding containers (14) along the path of the modules (13).

20. Device as claimed in claim 1 9, wherein the sensors for detecting the position of the module include a plurality of sensors (120), equal in number to that of the containers (14) that a module (13) is capable to hold, located along the path of the modules (1 3) and arranged for detecting a label (1 35) associated with the module (13).

21 . Device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises a code reader (82) for detecting an identification code associated with each container (14), the code reader (82) being arranged in correspondence with the opening and closing position (P1 ).

22. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the unit (8) for opening and closing containers (14) comprises a cap gripper (85) for gripping the cap of a container (14) located in the opening and closing position (P1 ) of the device, the cap gripper (85) being provided with at least one opening and closing movement in order to release or hold a cap, and a vertical movement.

23. Device as claimed in claim 22, wherein cap grippers (85) are further provided with a rotation movement around the vertical axis.

24. Device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the unit (9) for collecting samples from the containers (14) and conveying them to culture dishes (15) comprises a manipulator (9) for at least one seed wire (91 , 92), said manipulator (9) being provided with means for moving the seed wire between the sampling position (P2), in which a free end of the seed wire (91 , 92) is introduced within a sample container (14) and a position (Q3) in which the sample is deposited on a culture dish (15), in which the free end of the seed wire (91 , 92) comes into contact with the culture dish (15).

25. Device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the manipulator (9) is adapted for holding at least a first seed wire (91 ) and a second seed wire 92) different from the first one, and it is provided with means for placing a seed wire in an active or working condition and any other seed wire in an inactive condition.

26. Device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the means for placing a seed wire in an active or working condition and any other seed wire in an inactive condition include a head (94) capable of rotating around a horizontal axis, intended to hold the seed wires (91 , 92) perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the head (94).

27. Device as claimed in any of claims 24 to 26, wherein the manipulator (9) is further provided with means for moving at least one seed wire (91 , 92) to a sterilizing station (130).

28. Device as claimed in any of claims 24 to 27, wherein the manipulator (9) for the seed wire (91 , 92) is further provided with means for moving the free end of the seed wire (91 , 92) on the culture dish (15) according to at least a sowing movement.

29. Device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the manipulator (9) is suitable for moving the free end of the seed wire (91 , 92) on the culture dish (15) by a plurality of sowing movements.

30. Device as claimed in any of claims 24 to 29, wherein it comprises a platform having rotating means for holding a culture dish (15) in said position (P3) in which a sample is deposited on a dish.

31 . Device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises first storage means (16) for storing blank culture dishes (15), and feeding means (162, 164) of said culture dishes from the first storage means (16) to the position (P3) in which a sample is deposited on a dish.

32. Device as claimed in claim 31 , wherein it comprises second storage means (1 7) for storing culture dishes (1 5) on wh ich a sample has been deposited, and means (1 75, 1 72, 1 74) for removing said dishes from the position (P3) in which a sample is deposited on a dish to the second storage means (17).

33. Device as claimed in any of claims 31 or 32, wherein the storage means (16, 17) comprises a substantially cylindrical housing (161 , 171 ), adapted to rotate around its axis, and having a series of recesses (163, 173) defined in its periphery, each being suitable for accommodating a plurality of stacked culture dishes.

34. Method for processing biological samples, wherein it comprises the steps of: a) loading sample containers (14) on a conveyor (6);

b) conveying a container (14) to an opening and closing position (P1 );

c) unloading the container (14) located on the conveyor (6) in the opening and closing position (P1 );

d) conveying the open container (14) to a sample collecting position (P2); e) collecting a sample from the open container (14) that is on the conveyor in the sample collecting position (P2), and depositing it on a culture dish (15); f) conveying the container (14) back to the opening and closing position (P1 ); g) closing again the container (14) located on the conveyor in the opening and closing position (P1 ); and

h) unloading the container (14) from the conveyor (6).

35. Method for processing biological samples, wherein it comprises the steps of:

i) loading on a conveyor (6) a support module (13) with a plurality of sample containers (14);

j) conveying the module (13) to an opening and closing position (P1 );

k) opening a container (14) of the module (13)

I) conveying the module (13) with the open container (14) to a sampling position (P2); m) collecting a sample from the container (14) and depositing it on a culture dish (15);

n) conveying the module (13) back to the opening and closing position (P1 ); o) closing back the container (14);

p) repeating steps j) to o) with the other containers (14) of the module (13); and

q) unloading the module (13) from the conveyor (6) once all containers (14) held therein have been processed.

36. Method as claimed in Claim 35, wherein at least for step k) the module (1 3) for holding containers (14) is caused to go from a container release position, where containers (14) are received with free play in the module (13) to a container holding position, where the containers (14) are trapped in the module (13).