WO2015032694A1

WO2015032694A1 - Laboratory automation system and sanitation method

Info

Publication number: WO2015032694A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/068340
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabian FERHATI
Original assignee: Roche Diagnostics Gmbh; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag; Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
Priority date: 2013-09-04
Filing date: 2014-08-29
Publication date: 2015-03-12

Abstract

The invention relates to a laboratory automation system and an associated method. An operating element of the laboratory automation system can be stored in a compartment and preferably sanitized or sterilized.

Description

description

Laboratory automation systems and methods for disinfecting

Field of responsibility and state of the art

The invention relates to a laboratory automation system, comprising: a housing and a control element for operator control of the laboratory automation system.

Such laboratory automation systems may be used, for example, for handling and processing medical samples contained in sample tubes. The medical samples are usually body fluids.

The control element is used for operator control of the laboratory automation system. Such an operating element can have, for example, a monitor and a keyboard. There may also be other or different input devices, such as a touch screen, a mouse, a trackball or the like. Such input devices are usually relatively bulky. They also consume space when they are not needed at the moment. Usually they stand out over the rest of the laboratory automation system and thus pose a risk of injury to working people. Furthermore, dust, germs, droplets or other undesirable foreign bodies can settle on such input devices, which is particularly disturbing in the medical environment. If such input devices are used by different people, there is still a risk of transmission of diseases. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for disinfecting or sterilizing an operating element of a laboratory automation system. Generic methods are performed for example by spraying the control with disinfectants and are therefore expensive. A sufficiently frequent application is not guaranteed.

OBJECT AND SOLUTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a laboratory automation system and a method for disinfecting or sterilizing which solve at least one of the problems mentioned in each case. This is inventively achieved by a laboratory automation system according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 1 1. Advantageous Events are for example the dependent claims refer. The content of the claims is made by express reference to the content of the description.

The invention relates to a laboratory automation system, comprising: a housing and a control element for operator control of the laboratory automation system. According to the invention, a compartment for receiving the operating element and an opening assigned to the compartment are formed in the housing. The opening is associated with closing means, wherein the closing means have an open state in which the operating element can be introduced through the opening in the compartment, and wherein the closing means further comprises a closed state in which the opening is closed. For example, the housing may be similar to a laboratory automation system according to the prior art. Such devices often have expansions of one to several meters in all dimensions.

As already mentioned, the control element can be, for example, the combination of a screen with a keyboard. However, additionally or alternatively, other input devices may also be present, for example a computer mouse, a touchpad, a touchscreen, a trackball or a pointing device. The operating element can also be made removable, for example as a handheld device.

The compartment for receiving the operating element may be designed such that it is completely enclosed or closed when the closing means is in its closed state. Thus, a complete shielding of the compartment to the environment of the laboratory automation system can be achieved. This avoids, for example, the contamination of elements stored in the compartment, such as the operating element, by processes taking place in the environment of the laboratory automation system.

The opening may be formed on any sides of the housing. However, it is preferably formed on a front side of the housing, so that, for example, the operating element can be simply pulled out or pushed inwards. It will be described in more detail below how the laboratory automation system can be designed for this purpose.

The closing means may for example be designed to be manually operable. However, for example, they can also be designed to be electrically operable, in particular they can be designed with be provided an electrically operated sliding or folding mechanism. For example, the closing means may comprise a flat piece of material which closes the opening in the closed state. In the closed state, it can be provided, in particular, that the opening through the closing means is light-tight, radiation-tight, gas-tight, fluid-tight, impermeable to other influences or a combination thereof. In particular, it is preferred if the opening is closed by the closing means at least light-tight and fluid-tight when the closing means are in the closed state.

According to one embodiment, disinfectants or sterilizing agents are provided in the compartment. These serve, in particular, for disinfection or sterilization of the operating element. Thus, the control element can be disinfected during a time in which it is not used. This can effectively prevent the transmission of diseases, for example between different users. According to one embodiment, the disinfectant or sterilizing agent is a system for spraying the operating element or other components located in the housing with a disinfectant or sterilizing liquid, for example alcohol. The disinfectants or sterilizing agents may have at least one ultraviolet radiation (UV) source. Thus, an effective disinfection or sterilization can be achieved without the use of liquids. The absence of disinfecting liquids leads in particular to the fact that the control element is not affected by a disinfecting liquid immediately after disinfection. In addition, it can be avoided in this way that such liquids stored and must be constantly refilled.

The UV source can be designed in such a way that, during operation, it emits UV-C radiation having a wavelength between 240 nm and 270 nm at least temporarily. Such a wavelength spectrum has proved to be particularly advantageous for the purposes of disinfection. These are in particular those radiation areas which have a reliable killing or neutralizing effect on pathogens such as bacteria or viruses.

The UV source can be configured as a UV light-emitting diode or as an arrangement with a plurality of UV light-emitting diodes. This is a reliable and energy-saving source of UV radiation. The laboratory automation system may include activating means which activate the disinfectant, preferably immediately after the closure means have entered the closed state, and at least during such period of time that a germicidal UV-C dose is delivered. By such activating agent can be achieved be that a disinfection of the operating element begins immediately after the closing of the opening by the closing means. This prevents that the disinfection fails, for example, due to forgotten activation of the disinfectant. In addition, a disinfected state of the control element is made as quickly as possible in this way, so that it can be used quickly again.

A germicidal UV-C dose can be determined for each germ species to be killed, depending on the wavelength or wavelength spectrum used. It is a combination of irradiation time and irradiation intensity. A low radiation intensity can be compensated, for example, by a longer irradiation time. Preferably, a germicidal UV-C dose is delivered, which is sufficient to reliably kill all known pathogens.

The disinfectants can act directly on the control. This can be achieved, for example, by the control element being irradiated directly by the UV source, for example an arrangement of UV light-emitting diodes. The disinfectants can act on the operating element on the whole side, so that an all-round disinfecting effect is achieved. For example, if the disinfectants are designed as nozzles which spray a liquid disinfectant, they can be arranged such that they spray directly on the control element located in the housing.

As an alternative or in addition to disinfectants acting directly on the operating element, the laboratory automation system can also have an air circulation device, wherein disinfectants act on air circulated by the air circulation device. This can be achieved, for example, by aspirating air from the interior of the housing and feeding it into an air circulation channel in which the air is irradiated with UV radiation. A UV source in this case is arranged to emit the UV radiation into the air circulation channel. This can be a direct exposure of UV radiation to the input element or other components located in the housing can be avoided. This can be advantageous, for example, if the UV radiation would have a negative effect, for example bleaching or thermal damage to the operating element or other components. The laboratory automation system may comprise a number of extendable drawers adapted to receive samples, the disinfectants being adapted to act on samples contained in the drawers. Such an effect on samples in the drawers may alternatively or in addition to the effect on a control panel. ment be provided. In particular, with a simultaneous effect on the control element and on the samples located in the drawers, a particularly effective function of the disinfection can be achieved. For example, the drawers can be equipped with samples from outside the housing in order to disinfect them. The next time the disinfecting agents are activated, for example because the operating element is introduced through the opening into the interior of the housing and is to be disinfected, these samples are also disinfected. This saves work steps and energy.

The disinfectant or sterilization agent can be arranged to be movable on a rail. Thus, the disinfectants can be adapted to different current requirements. For example, an altered operating element or another arrangement as well as any necessary disinfection of samples located in drawers can be taken into account.

The laboratory automation system may include a slide-in device for linearly feeding and removing the control element into and out of the compartment. Such a slide-in device can be designed, for example, as an arrangement of linearly displaceable rails. This allows a particularly simple design and ease of use. The operating element can be pulled out linearly by a user through the opening and can likewise be inserted again through the opening into the compartment. Further, the laboratory automation system may include a ball joint for pivoting the operating member, particularly in a state where the operating member is outside the compartment. Such a ball joint may for example be mounted inside the housing, wherein an aforementioned insertion device may be pivotally mounted on the ball joint. However, the ball joint may for example also be mounted between two elements of a slide-in device or at the end of a slide-in device. In this way, a three-dimensional adjustability of the operating element when it is outside the housing, can be achieved. In this way, different requirements, for example different body sizes of operating or differently desired operating positions, can advantageously be taken into account.

According to a further embodiment, the operating element has at least one monitor and a keyboard, wherein the keyboard is attachable to a back of the monitor in a storage state and by means of hinges and / or rails in a working state the monitor can be spent. This allows a space-saving and convenient storage of the keyboard on an otherwise unnecessary side of the monitor. If the control element is to be used, the keyboard can simply be moved to a working position. At least one support surface for placing objects can be formed on the input device. On such a support surface objects can be placed, which are moved in and out with the control and thus can also be disinfected within the housing. This allows an increase in the functionality for disinfecting. For example, devices that are to be used outside of the laboratory automation system and subjected to rapid disinfection can simply be placed on such a support surface and disinfected within the compartment.

The invention further relates to a method for disinfecting or sterilizing an operating element of a laboratory automation system, the method comprising the steps of retracting the operating element into a compartment of the laboratory automation system, closing an opening associated with the compartment, and activating disinfectants or sterilizing agents in the compartment ,

Short description of the drawing

The invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 schematically shows a laboratory automation system,

FIG. 2 shows the laboratory automation system of FIG. 1 in a different state. FIG.

FIG. 3 shows the laboratory automation system of FIG. 1 in yet another state, FIG.

4 is a detail view of a control element,

5 shows detailed views of UV sources,

6 is a schematic view of a UV-based disinfectant,

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of another UV-based disinfectant. Detailed description of the embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a laboratory automation system 10. The laboratory automation system 10 has a housing 1 1, which encloses the laboratory automation system 10. The housing 1 1 is movably mounted on rollers. In the housing 1 1, a receiving area 12 is formed, which provides a flat bearing surface. In this receiving area 12, a sample holder with samples 13 are placed so that they are available for handling and / or analysis by the laboratory automation system 10. These are typically medical samples in the form of liquids contained in respective tubes. The laboratory automation system 10 further has an opening 14 in the housing 1 1, which is closed in the state shown in Fig. 1 by closing means in the form of a flap 15.

Furthermore, the laboratory automation system 10 has a drawer 18, of which in the state shown in Fig. 1, only an outer surface and a control knob can be seen. In other words, the drawer 18 is fully retracted in the state shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows the laboratory automation system 10 of Fig. 1 in a different state. On the one hand here, the flap 15 is opened. This is done by the flap 15 is folded out on an elongated hinge 16. The flap 15 is designed in a known manner such that it opens when you press lightly against the flap 15 with a finger or with one hand at a marked location. In the hinge 16, a sensor for detecting the state of the flap 15 is integrated. Thus, the hinge 16 can serve as an activating means for activating disinfectants or sterilizing agents described below, in particular such that the disinfectants are activated when the flap 15 is closed.

Because the flap 15 is open in the state shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to look through the opening 14. Thus, a disposed within the housing 1 1 compartment 13 is visible, which is accessible through the opening 14. This compartment 13 is used inter alia for receiving a control element 20th In the state shown in Fig. 2, the operating element 20 is completely contained in the compartment 13 and thus within the housing 1 1. This is a condition in which the operating element 20 is stored and - as will be shown later - can be disinfected. It will be described below how the operating element 20 can be used to operate the laboratory automation system 10.

The operating element 20 has a screen 22 and a keyboard 24. In the state shown in Fig. 2, the keyboard 24 is folded up so that it extends with its longitudinal direction along the monitor 22. For a compact storage of the control element 20 is achieved. In the state shown in Fig. 2 can be further seen that the drawer 18 is pulled out. Thus, 18 items can be placed in the drawer, which should be disinfected within the housing 1 1.

3 shows the laboratory automation system 10 in yet another state. The drawer 18 is retracted again. The operating element 20 has moved out of the compartment 13 in the state shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the monitor 22 and the keyboard 24 are outside the housing 1 1. The keyboard 24 is further folded down, so that a conventional computer workstation is created. This can be used to control the laboratory automation system 10.

The operating element 20 is supported by an arm 26, which in turn is connected to a ball joint 27. The ball joint 27 is connected to a slide-in device 30, wherein the insertion device 30 serves to pull the ball joint 27 with the arm 26 and the control element 20 from the tray 13 and push it back into this if necessary. It will be explained in more detail below how this is done.

Fig. 4 shows the control element 20 and the components located thereon to the insertion device 30 in greater detail. It can be seen again that the keyboard 24 is folded down so that it forms a normal VDU workstation together with the monitor 22.

The arm or leg 26 is presently arranged such that it forms an extension of the insertion device 30. The insertion device 30 has an outer rail 32 and an inner rail 34. The inner rail 34 is connected to the ball joint 27.

The ball joint 27 can be used to three-dimensionally adjust the position of the operating element 20. Thus, for example, different heights or lateral orientations can be adjusted.

The inner rail 34 is slidably received in the outer rail 32. This allows a one-dimensional relative movement of the two rails 32, 34. Thus, the control element 20 can be retracted into the compartment 13 and it can also be moved out of this again. There is no special effort required for this purpose. Fig. 5 shows three possible embodiments of a UV source.

FIG. 5 a shows a round lamp field 40 with a plurality of smaller UV lamps 41. Such UV lamps 41 may, for example, be light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or ordinary, for example fluorescent-based, UV lamps.

Fig. 5b shows another embodiment of a UV lamp 42. In this case, two U-shaped tubes 43 are arranged on the UV lamp 42, which are designed as conventional, fluorescent UV lamps.

Fig. 5c shows a lamp bar 44, which has a plurality of individual, smaller lamps 45. These are preferably light emitting diodes (LEDs).

FIG. 6 shows schematically disinfectants 50 in relation to the input unit 20 and the drawer 18. The disinfectants 50 have a UV lamp 52 and a rail 54. In the present case, the UV lamp 52 can be moved electrically along the rail 54. This allows the positioning of the UV lamp 52 at different locations within the housing 11.

The operating element 20 is here in the same state in which it is located in FIG. 1, namely in a storage state within the compartment 13 in the housing 11. As shown, the control element 20 is in this state immediately below the rail 54, which is achieved so that the UV lamp 52 can be passed over the control element 20. This allows irradiation of the control element 20 from all sides, by the UV lamp 52 is driven to all sides of the control element 20 and accordingly For a long time it is lit to deliver a UV-C dose germicidal the pathogens to be removed.

At the same time a content of the drawer 18 is disinfected on this occasion, since, as can be seen in Fig. 6, the UV lamp 52 can be arranged above the drawer 18. With appropriate radiation in this position, the UV radiation from the lamp 52 directly reaches the interior of the drawer 18 and there fulfills a disinfecting effect.

Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of disinfectants 50. In this case, two fixed strips of lamps 52 are arranged, which are mounted opposite one another. The two strips of lamps 52 are attached directly to the housing 1 1. Adjacent to the two strips of lamps 52, the monitor 22 is arranged, which can be disinfected in this way from at least one side. If the monitor 22 is also to be disinfected from other sides or should the keyboard 24 also be disinfected, additional lamps 52 may be provided within the housing 11 or the control element 20 with the monitor 22 and the keyboard 24 may be rotated within the compartment 13 ,

Claims

claims

1 . Laboratory automation system (10), comprising:

a housing (1 1) and

a control element (20) for operator control of the laboratory automation system (10),

characterized in that

in the housing (1 1) a compartment (13) for receiving the operating element (20) and an opening (14) associated with the compartment (13) are formed,

wherein the opening (14) closing means (15) are associated, wherein the closing means (15) have an open state in which the operating element (20) through the opening (14) in the compartment (13) can be introduced, and wherein the closing means (15) have a closed state in which the opening (14) is closed.

2. Laboratory automation system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the compartment (13) disinfectant or sterilizing agent (50), in particular for disinfection or for sterilization of the operating element (20) are provided.

3. Laboratory automation system (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the disinfectants (50) have at least one ultraviolet radiation (UV) source (52).

4. Laboratory automation system (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by activating means (16) which activate the disinfectant (50), preferably immediately after the closing means (15) have taken the closed state and more preferably at least as long as a germicidal UV-C dose is delivered.

5. Laboratory automation system (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by an air circulation device, wherein the disinfectants (50) act on circulated by the air circulation device air.

6. laboratory automation system (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by a number of extendable drawers (18) which are adapted to receive samples, wherein the disinfectant (50) are adapted to in the drawers (18) to act samples.

7. Laboratory automation system (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the disinfectants (50, 52) on a rail (54) are arranged movable.

8. laboratory automation system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an insertion device (30) for linear guided introduction and removal of the operating element (20) in the compartment (13) and from the compartment (13).

9. laboratory automation system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a ball joint (27) for pivoting the operating element (20), in particular in a state in which the operating element is outside the compartment (13).

10. Laboratory automation system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating element (20) has at least one monitor (22) and a keyboard (24), wherein the keyboard (24) preferably at a rear side of the monitor (22). can be mounted in a storage condition and can be moved by means of hinges and / or rails in a working condition in front of the monitor (22).

1 1. Method for disinfecting or sterilizing a control element (20) of a laboratory automation system (10), the method comprising the following steps:

Retracting the operating element into a compartment (13) of the laboratory automation system (10),

Closing an opening (14) associated with the compartment (13), and

Activation of disinfectants or sterilizing agents (50) in the compartment (13).