Method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system, laboratory sample distribution system and laboratory automation system

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 11092613
APP PUB NO 20180067141A1
SERIAL NO

15809032

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a number of sample container carriers. The sample container carriers are adapted to carry one or more sample containers. The sample containers comprise samples to be analyzed by a number of laboratory stations. The laboratory sample distribution system also comprises a transport plane. The transport plane is adapted to support the sample container carriers. The method comprises allocating an area of the transport plane as a buffer area. The buffer area is adapted to store a variable number of sample container carriers. The method also comprises controlling the buffer area using a puzzle-based control scheme or using an aisle-based control scheme as a function of a storage density of the buffer area.

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Patent Owner(s)

  • ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Bruntsch, Sophia Stuttgart, DE 1 33
Diez, Diaz-Calonge Daniel Stuttgart, DE 1 33
Ebner, Walter Kernen, DE 9 126
Garcia, Bustos Soraya Stuttgart, DE 2 37
Mahmudimanesh, Mohammadreza Darmstadt, DE 4 163
Ren, Shubin Remseck, DE 3 60
Reza, Mohsin Stuttgart, DE 2 61

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