Sample identification and test data correlation method and apparatus

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 in which said step of locating a third datum point is accomplished by defining an identifying incremental distance between the first and third datum points, said identifying incremental distance being dependent upon said ratio and the incremental distance between the second datum point and the testing station.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 in which said step of defining the number of tests per sample is accomplished by an operator who, by inputting the number of tests into a control center of the system, effects said step of establishing a ratio.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 3 in which said step of locating is accomplished by defining an identifying incremental distance between the first and third datum points, said identifying incremental distance being dependent upon said ratio and the incremental distance between the second datum point and the testing station.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 4 in which said step of locating a third datum point is accomplished automatically by the system as a result of said inputting of the number of tests, the identifying incremental distance being the quotient of the incremental distance between the second datum point and the testing station divided by the number of tests per sample.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 1 in which said step of locating a third datum point is accomplished by an operator who determines the identifying incremental distance by dividing the incremental distance between the second datum point and the testing station by the number of tests per sample.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 1 in which said step of presetting is accomplished manually by an operator.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 7 in which said step of providing indicia on the sample receivers is accomplished such that the indicia is manually readable by the operator.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 1 in which said step of presetting is accomplished automatically by a transmitting of the indicia from the sample receiver at the third datum point to the stepping register.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 1 which further comprises the step of conveying to a readout means the sample testing data from the testing station and the associated sample receiver indicia from the stepping register, both said data and said indicia being simultaneously available by virtue of said methos.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 10 which further comprises the step of manually recording the origin of each sample and the indicia of the receiver of each specific sample, and matching the indicia of the recording with the same indicia from the readout means and thereby correlating the sample identification with the derived test data.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 1 in which said step of defining the number of tests per sample is changeable for several different numbers of tests, each such change in defining causing related changes in the ratio obtained by said step of establishing and related changes in the location of the third datum point by said step of locating.

Claim 14

Apparatus for the correlation of the identification of a sample and test data derived from the samplE in the environment of a system in which each of a plurality of the samples is in a sample receiver which incrementally advances along a first path passing a first datum point, and a determinable number of test portions obtained from each sample incrementally advance along a second path passing a second datum point to a testing station for performing that same determinable number of tests per sample, the incremental distance between the second datum point and the testing station being known; apparatus comprising: means for establishing a ratio between the rates of the incremental advancing of the test portions and samples along the second and first paths, respectively, to be the same as the determinable number of tests per sample; means for locating a third datum point along the first path; means for providing a progression of indicia on the sample receivers; a stepping register having the same progression of indicia as the sample receivers and presettable to the indicia of the sample receiver positioned at said third datum point, p prior to start-up of the system; and means synchronizing the stepping of the register with the incremental advancing of the sample receivers along the first path; whereby, after such presetting of the register and the start-up of the system, all of the sample test portions will reach the testing station at the same time that the register will step to the indicia of the sample receiver from which the test portions were obtained, so that the sample identity and test portion derived data is correlated.

Claim 15

Apparatus for the correlation of the identification of a sample and test data derived from the samplE in the environment of a system in which each of a plurality of the samples is in a sample receiver which incrementally advances along a first path passing a first datum point, and a determinable number of test portions obtained from each sample incrementally advance along a second path passing a second datum point to a testing station for performing that same determinable number of tests per sample, the incremental distance between the second datum point and the testing station being known; apparatus comprising: means for establishing a ratio between the rates of the incremental advancing of the test portions and samples along the second and first paths, respectively, to be the same as the determinable number of tests per sample; means for locating a third datum point along the first path; means for providing a progression of indicia on the sample receivers; a stepping register having the same progression of indicia as the sample receivers and presettable to the indicia of the sample receiver positioned at said third datum point, p prior to start-up of the system; and means synchronizing the stepping of the register with the incremental advancing of the sample receivers along the first path; whereby, after such presetting of the register and the start-up of the system, all of the sample test portions will reach the testing station at the same time that the register will step to the indicia of the sample receiver from which the test portions were obtained, so that the sample identity and test portion derived data is correlated.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13 in which said means for locating a third datum point includes means for defining an identifying incremental distance between the first and third datum points such that said identifying incremental distance is dependent upon said ratio and the incremental distance between the second datum point and the testing station.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14 in which said means for locating a third datum point includes at least one indicator element oriented adjacent the first path at the position of said third datum point.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for establishing a ratio includes means for inputting the determinable number of tests into a control center of the system.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said means for locating a third datum point operates automatically and is coupled to be responsive to said means for inputting of the determinable number of tests in such a manner that said third datum point is located from said first datum point an identifying incremental distance which is the quotient of the incremental distance between the second datum point and the testing station divided by the number of tests per sample.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 13 in which said stepping register is constructed to be preset manually by an operator.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said indicia on the sample receivers comprise indicia manually readable by the operator.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 13 in which said stepping register is coupled to be automatically preset by automatically receiving transmission of the indicia from the sample receiver at the third datum point.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 13 which further comprises a readout means coupled to receive the testing data from the testing station and the associated sample receiver indicia from the stepping register, both said data and said indicia being simultaneously available to said readout means by virtue of said apparatus.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 13 in which said means for establishing a ratio is constructed and arranged to provide several different of said ratios, one at a time, each said ratio corresponding to one of several different determinable number of tests, and each such ratio being accompanied by a related change in the location of the third datum point by said means for locating the third datum point.

Claim 25

Apparatus foR sample testing and correlation of the identification of a sample and test data derived from that sample, said apparatus comprising: a first and a second incrementally driven conveyor; means for synchronously driving said conveyors along first and second paths, respectively; means on said first and second conveyors for receiving, respectively, a plurality of samples and a plurality of aliquots, there being a determinable number of aliquots for each sample; said receiving means on said first conveyor containing indicia such that each sample can be identified, the indicia being in a progression along said first conveyor; first and second datum points located, respectively, adjacent said first and second conveyor paths; an aliquot testing station positioned adjacent said second path at a known incremental distance along said second path from said second datum point; means for controlling said driving means such that it synchronizes the driving of said conveyors in proportion to the number of aliquots per sample; means for inputting into said controlling means a value for the number of aliquots per sample; means, responsively coupled to said inputting means, for locating a third datum point adjacent said first path; and a presettable stepping register having the same progression of indicia as the indicia of said receiving means along said first conveyor, said register being coupled to be synchronously stepped to match the incremental driving of said first conveyor; said apparatus, when said inputting means has supplied said controlling means with a value number of aliquots and said register is preset to the indicia value of the receiving means that is positioned adjacent said third datum point, being enabled to automatically proceed incrementally such that all of the aliquots of a specific sample will reach said testing station at the same time that said register will step to the indicia of the receiving means of that specific sample, so that sample identification and its aliquot test data then can be correlated.

Claim 26

Apparatus foR sample testing and correlation of the identification of a sample and test data derived from that sample, said apparatus comprising: a first and a second incrementally driven conveyor; means for synchronously driving said conveyors along first and second paths, respectively; means on said first and second conveyors for receiving, respectively, a plurality of samples and a plurality of aliquots, there being a determinable number of aliquots for each sample; said receiving means on said first conveyor containing indicia such that each sample can be identified, the indicia being in a progression along said first conveyor; first and second datum points located, respectively, adjacent said first and second conveyor paths; an aliquot testing station positioned adjacent said second path at a known incremental distance along said second path from said second datum point; means for controlling said driving means such that it synchronizes the driving of said conveyors in proportion to the number of aliquots per sample; means for inputting into said controlling means a value for the number of aliquots per sample; means, responsively coupled to said inputting means, for locating a third datum point adjacent said first path; and a presettable stepping register having the same progression of indicia as the indicia of said receiving means along said first conveyor, said register being coupled to be synchronously stepped to match the incremental driving of said first conveyor; said apparatus, when said inputting means has supplied said controlling means with a value number of aliquots and said register is preset to the indicia value of the receiving means that is positioned adjacent said third datum point, being enabled to automatically proceed incrementally such that all of the aliquots of a specific sample will reach said testing station at the same time that said register will step to the indicia of the receiving means of that specific sample, so that sample identification and its aliquot test data then can be correlated.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 23 in which there is readout means coupled to both said stepping register and said testing station for receiving coterminously the sample receiver indicia and the aliquot test data derived from the same sample.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 24 in which said first and second datum points are, respectively, sample transfer and aliquot receiving stations.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 23 in which said means for locating a third datum point includes means for defining an identifying incremental distance between the first and third datum points, such that said identifying incremental distance is dependent upon said number of aliquots per sample and the incremental distance between the second datum point and the testing station.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 26 in which said stepping register is constructed to be preset manually by an operator and said indicia on the sample receivers comprise indicia manually readable by the operator.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 27 in which said means for locating a third datum point includes at least one indicator element oriented adjacent the first path at the position of said third datum point.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 25 in which said means for defining an identifying incremental distance is constructed to define effectively such distance as the quotient of the known incremental distance between said second datum point and said testing station divided by the number of aliquots per sample.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 23 in which said conveyor driving means, controlling means, inputting means and locating means all are constructed, arranged and intercoupled for response to the inputting of several different numbers of aliquots for different samples; whereby, proportionately different drive synchornizations and third datum point locations are obtained for different samples.