Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing – Automated chemical analysis – With conveyance of sample along a test line in a container...
Patent
1997-08-27
1999-03-30
Beisner, William H.
Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
Automated chemical analysis
With conveyance of sample along a test line in a container...
435 34, 4352862, 4352873, 4352875, 4352887, 422 63, 422 8205, 250328, 436 43, C12Q 104, C12M 134
Patent
active
058888250
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention concerns monitoring and relates to apparatus and methods for monitoring a variable associated with each of a plurality of items. The invention finds particular, but not exclusive, application in monitoring the growth of micro-organisms in blood culture bottles.
PRIOR ART
European Specification No. EP-A-252471 discloses a monitoring arrangement in which test pack trays are removably located in test pack drawers in a housing. The trays, but not the individual test packs, are referenced with a unique code which is detected by an X/Y scanner at the same time as the individual test packs are monitored. Data from the scanner is fed to a computer. The computer is thus able to relate the individual test pack signals to particular trays, but the location of any particular test pack to which particular data relates is unknown. This problem is overcome by means of a sorter controller, which maps a computer associated memory with the positions of individual test packs in each tray when the trays are loaded. The map thus requires to be updated if the test packs are re-arranged.
The requirement to provide a sorter controller which is required to map a memory associated computer is clearly disadvantageous and tends to inhibit full re-arrangement of the trays when the test packs are being examined.
The present invention aims to overcome this disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect the present invention provides monitoring apparatus comprising a unit having one or more supports each for receiving a plurality of items in an array in which the items are re-locatable, sensor means for intermittently and repeatedly monitoring each item in the array to monitor changes in a variable associated therewith, and means for supplying data relating to the monitored variable to computer means, characterised in that each item has a unique machine-readable identifying reference associated therewith, which reference is read by the sensor means and supplied to the computer means, together with the data relating to the monitored variable, and in that the computer means is programmed to relate the monitored variable to the reference of each item independently of the location of the item in the array.
By having a unique machine-readable reference associated with each item which is read and by having data thereon supplied to the computer means together with data on the monitored variable, the computer is able to monitor data on the variable of a particular item regardless of the location of the item within the array and regardless of changes of location of items in the array. Monitoring is thus linked to the item independent of location in the array. This means that items can be moved within the array at will, eg. for "housekeeping" purposes, without affecting monitoring. There is further no need to allocate a particular location in the array to a particular item, with the risk of inadvertent substitutions. There is similarly no need to keep a location free for an item temporarily removed from the array, eg. for further investigation.
The items can be anything requiring repeated monitoring over an extended period. The invention finds particular application in monitoring micro-organism growth in liquid culture, eg. blood samples, in a gas-tight containers each incorporating a flexible diaphragm capable of moving in response to pressure changes within the container, by detecting displacement of the diaphragm, wherein the position or conformation of the diaphragm is repeatedly sensed using distance-measuring means such as a laser, eg. as disclosed in PCT/GB92/01327 (WO93/03178). In this case the items typically comprise blood culture bottles and the variable monitored is diaphragm position, which is indicative of internal pressure, which in turn is indicative of micro-organism growth. Other variables such as temperature, colour, electrical properties etc could alternatively be monitored.
The support conveniently comprises a generally stationary holder such as a drawer in a housing, with respect
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Carr Anthony Hugh
Cherry Kenneth
Jackson Simon Edward
Beisner William H.
Oxoid Limited
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