Systems and methods for reading machine-readable marks on racks and receptacles
A sample processing or assay instrument includes a moveable support. The moveable support defines a first pocket configured to receive a first object having a first machine-readable mark. The moveable support defines a second pocket configured to receive a second object having a second machine-readable mark. The moveable support also includes a first fiducial machine-readable mark and a second fiducial machine-readable mark. The instrument also includes an image capture device that captures a first image including the first fiducial machine-readable mark and the first machine-readable mark of the first object. The image capture device captures a second image that includes the second fiducial machine-readable mark and the second machine-readable mark of the second object. The instrument also includes a processor configured to associate information decoded from the first and second machine-readable marks with first and second locations on the moveable support.
1. A sample instrument comprising:
a moveable support configured to move from a first position to a second position, the moveable support defining a first pocket configured to receive a first object having a first machine-readable mark, and defining a second pocket configured to receive a second object having a second machine-readable mark, the moveable support comprising a first fiducial machine-readable mark containing information that identifies a location of the first fiducial machine-readable mark and a second fiducial machine-readable mark containing information that identifies a location of the second fiducial machine-readable mark; and
an image capture device having a field of view that captures a first image including the first fiducial machine-readable mark and, when the first object is received within the first pocket, the first machine-readable mark of the first object, and captures a second image as the moveable support moves from the first position to the second position that includes the second fiducial machine-readable mark and, when the second object is received within the second pocket, the second machine-readable mark of the second object; and
a processor configured to
decode the first machine-readable mark and the first fiducial machine-readable mark in the first image,
associate information decoded from the first machine-readable mark with a first location on the moveable support having a predetermined association with the first fiducial machine-readable mark,
decode the second machine-readable mark and the second fiducial machine-readable mark in the second image, and
associate information decoded from the second machine-readable mark with a second location on the moveable support having a predetermined association with the second fiducial machine-readable mark.
2. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first object has different dimensions than the second object.
3. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein:
the moveable support is a sample rack, a reagent drawer, or a consumable drawer;
the first object is a first sample receptacle, a first reagent container, or a first consumable; and
the second object is a second sample receptacle, a second reagent container, or a second consumable.
4. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein:
the first fiducial machine-readable mark is a first one- or two-dimensional barcode; and
the second fiducial machine-readable mark is a second one- or two-dimensional barcode.
5. The sample instrument of claim 4 , wherein the first fiducial machine-readable mark is different from the second fiducial machine-readable mark.
6. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein:
the first fiducial machine-readable mark is below, above, or to a lateral side of the first pocket; and
the second fiducial machine-readable mark is below, above, or to a lateral side of the second pocket.
7. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to
identify the first machine-readable mark in the first image based on a predetermined position of the first machine-readable mark in the first image relative to the position of the first fiducial machine-readable mark in the first image; and
identify the second machine-readable mark in the second image based on a predetermined position of the second machine-readable mark in the second image relative to the position of the second fiducial machine-readable mark in the second image.
8. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to
identify the first machine-readable mark in the first image by processing only a portion of the first image that includes the predetermined position of the first machine-readable mark in the first image relative to the position of the first fiducial machine-readable mark in the first image; and
identify the second machine-readable mark in the second image by processing only a portion of the second image that includes the predetermined position of the second machine-readable mark in the second image relative to the position of the second fiducial machine-readable mark in the first image.
9. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to
identify the first machine-readable mark in the first image by processing the entire first image; and
identify the second machine-readable mark in the second image by processing the entire second image.
10. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to
process only a predetermined portion of the first image to identify the first fiducial machine-readable mark in the first image; and
process only a predetermined portion of the second image to identify the second fiducial machine-readable mark in the second image.
11. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to
process the entire first image to identify the first fiducial machine-readable mark in the first image; and
process the entire second image to identify the second fiducial machine-readable mark in the second image.
12. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sample instrument comprises a sample assay instrument.
13. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sample instrument comprises a sample processing instrument.
14. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the image capture device comprises a camera.
15. The sample instrument of claim 3 , wherein:
the moveable support comprises the reagent drawer;
the first object comprises the first reagent container; and
the second object comprises the second reagent container.
16. The sample instrument of claim 3 , wherein:
the moveable support comprises the consumable drawer;
the first object comprises the first consumable; and
the second object comprises the second consumable.
17. The sample instrument of claim 4 , wherein:
the first machine-readable mark comprises the first one-dimensional barcode; and
the second machine-readable mark comprises the second one-dimensional barcode.
18. The sample instrument of claim 17 , wherein the first machine-readable mark is different from the second machine-readable mark.
19. The sample instrument of claim 6 , wherein:
the first fiducial machine-readable mark is above the first pocket; and
the second fiducial machine-readable mark is above the second pocket.
20. The sample instrument of claim 6 , wherein:
the first fiducial machine-readable mark is positioned to the lateral side of the first pocket; and
the second fiducial machine-readable mark is positioned to the lateral side of the second pocket.
21. The sample instrument of claim 6 , wherein:
the first fiducial machine-readable mark is below the first pocket; and
the second fiducial machine-readable mark is below the second pocket.
22. The sample instrument of claim 1 , wherein the moveable support manually moves from the first position to the second position.