US 12,017,216 B2
Method and laboratory system to process a laboratory carrier based on a feature of a test liquid in the laboratory carrier
Andreas Drechsler, Baar (CH); Darko Klinec, Denzlingen (DE); Michael Koehler, Winnenden (DE); Alexander Jakob, Kornwestheim (DE); and Michael Zeder, Buchrain (CH)
Assigned to ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on Jan. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/141,786.
Claims priority of application No. 20151177 (EP), filed on Jan. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0213450 A1, Jul. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01F 23/284 (2006.01); G01F 23/292 (2006.01); G01F 23/80 (2022.01); G01N 23/20 (2018.01); G01N 23/20091 (2018.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/3577 (2014.01); G01N 21/3581 (2014.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [G01F 23/284 (2013.01); G01F 23/292 (2013.01); G01F 23/804 (2022.01); G01N 23/20091 (2013.01); G01N 35/00732 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1861 (2013.01); G01N 21/3577 (2013.01); G01N 21/3581 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method to process a laboratory carrier in a laboratory system based on a feature of a test liquid in the laboratory carrier, wherein the laboratory system comprises the laboratory carrier comprising the test liquid, a terahertz wave source, a terahertz detector, a laboratory carrier processing device, and a control unit communicatively connected to the terahertz wave source, terahertz detector, and laboratory carrier processing device, the method comprising:
a) placing the laboratory carrier in between the terahertz wave source and terahertz detector;
b) irradiating, by the terahertz wave source, the laboratory carrier comprising the test liquid with terahertz waves;
c) measuring, by the terahertz detector, intensities of the terahertz radiation reaching the terahertz detector;
d) generating, by the control unit, an image comprising different absorption strengths of the irradiated laboratory carrier comprising the test liquid based on the measured intensities of the terahertz radiation reaching the terahertz detector, wherein a first absorption strength range relates to the test liquid, a second absorption strength range relates to the laboratory carrier, and a third absorption strength range relates to air and wherein the first, second, and third absorption strength ranges are different;
e) detecting, by the control unit, a liquid outline of the test liquid, a carrier outline of the laboratory carrier, and an air outline based on the first, second, and third absorption strength ranges;
f) determining, by the control unit, the feature of the test liquid in the laboratory carrier based on the detected liquid outline, the detected carrier outline, and the detected air outline; and
g) controlling, by the control unit, the laboratory carrier processing device to process the laboratory carrier in the laboratory system based on the determined feature of the test liquid in the laboratory carrier.