Fast Lab Technology
Our technology (1) intends to decrease time and cost of routine and esoteric tests and
comprises some new engineering methods and devices. Fast Lab technology decreases
time and cost of human tests in 3-5 times and is very profitably to every Clinical and Bio
Lab. Project fit with existent testing technology and does not require changing analyzing
methods. Our project includes some inventions.
Rapid Centrifuge and Cap Remover - (2, 3) allows improving every standard
Centrifuge, using only new buckets and adapters. Our Technology conducts rapid
specimen separating and cap removing during Centrifuge spin. This technology decrease
separation time in 5-10 times using standard centrifuge. In addition to fast spin method
patent includes cap removing method, providing decapping standard Vacutainers, loading
in centrifuge bucket, during same spin. This novelty Centrifuge comprising some new
patented and patent pending (4) methods and devices now: Rapid Separation device; Cap
Removing device and Automated Sampling device for delivering plasma or serum from
tubes loaded inside Centrifuge to Analyzer or microplates.
We examined improved prototype of our Fast Spin centrifuge (2, 3, 5) in some local
laboratory. Assembly was easily installed and removed from standard Jouan 312
centrifuge for the purpose of` examination. Our Assembly consists of at least one pair of
light tube holders, stoppers and displacing means. Light holder is a combination between
standard centrifuge bucket and tube adapter. These two holders was developed and built
for tests only. Said holder is suitably for standard tubes with diameter 13 mm and length
100 mm or 75 mm. Stoppers built like brackets and provide appropriate inclination of
said tube holders in a first time of centrifuge rotor spin. Displacing means with a mass
inside is placing in the middle of tube holders before spin.
We processed some brands of ordinary 100 mm gel tubes with clot blood samples in our
holders during different times in 3000 rpm. The shape of gel was satisfactory in most of
the cases. The rapid successful results were received after 1 minute spin. A comparative
processing of clot blood samples in ordinary holders in the same time in 3000 rpm was
not successful. Believe that we can decrease spin time to 30 seconds using new
centrifuge, in a cases of gel and non gel tubes. Now we have a 5-10 fold decrease in spin
time compared to conventional methods. Please look two minutes movie about our
successful 1 minute spin test (5). In this fragments shown: manual loading of 4 gel tubes
with clot blood inside our holders and unloading them after 1 minute spin.
Lab Automation Technology - Significant factors in increasing Lab productivity is
decreasing loading-unloading time, cap removing time and Analyzer sampling time.
Patent Pending (4) Clinical Lab System and Compact Analytical Module will solve
these problems. Compact and not expensive Module converts every ClinLab to powerful
pre-analytical and analytical station. Analytical Module provides separation, tubes
loading-unloading, cap removing and testing in one place. This Technology simplifies
connecting tubes with Analyzer. Full Automated Module has a small size. System uses
some new methods and devices and useful in small, medium Labs and in TLA.
Patent Pending (4) Full automated and semi-automated Bio Lab System operates with
tubes and microplates. New simply devises are very suitable for handling tubes and
multi-well plates. Novelty Direct Centrifuge Sampling Method is very useful to all
laboratory tests. Our Technology will produce robotic processing of blood tubes and
micro plates in one small isolated, compact and mobile Module. We intend to provide
every physician office with simply and not expensive testing facilities.
References:
1."A New Approach in Laboratory Automation: Fast Spin, a New Pre-Analytical Station"
February/March 2002 issue of Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation;
JALA, Vol. 7, number1, p. 89. http://labautomation.org
2. "A faster centrifuge" Journal of American Biotechnology Laboratory, October 2001.
(ABL, Vol. 19, number 11, Page 44).
http://www.iscpubs.com/articles/abl/b0110yav.pdf
3. US Patent 6,234, 948 "Combined Centrifugation Assembly"
4. Patent Application No. 20050158212, titled "Automated laboratory system and
analytical module"
5. http://www.codebuildingblocks.com/Michael/FastSpin/