Method of operating an analytical laboratory

US12313641B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Christopher Schofield · Rotkreuz, CH
• Daniel Arnold · Danville, US
• Moritz von Hopffgarten · Heidelberg, DE
• Werner Smit · Hagendorn, CH
• Chye Yin Priscillia Tan · Ibach, CH
• Florian Reinhard Rauscher · Rotkreuz, CH
• Angelos Chotzidis · Stuttgart, DE
• Carlos Fernándes Gulias · Barcelona, ES

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 24, 2020
• Grant date: May 27, 2025
• Expiry date: Jul 28, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2035/0094
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of operating an analytical laboratory is disclosed. The method comprises receiving and identifying sample containers and sorting them into a sample rack, retrieving an order list A comprising test orders corresponding to the sample containers within the sample rack, determining an optimal transportation route for the sample rack based on the order list A, a set of constraints and an objective function, the optimal transportation route being indicative of a list and/or sequence of laboratory instrument(s) required to complete the order list A, re-determining the optimal transportation route upon a change of the constraint(s) and/or of the objective function, transporting the sample rack to one or more of the laboratory instruments according to the optimal transportation route by the sample transportation system, and processing the biological samples according to the corresponding test orders by the target laboratory instrument(s).