IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,214,485
Granted Patent B2
US 12,214,485 · App. 17/585,866 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

Robot for bio-surveillance and bio-surveillance system

Inventor: David Carl Glasbrenner (Hilliard, OH)
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
B25J11/008B25J5/007B25J9/0009G01N35/0099G05D1/0225G01N2035/00524
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,214,485
App. No.
17/585,866
Granted
Feb 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mobile robot may include one or more driven wheels, one or more sensors, and a sample collector. The sample collector may include a collection medium holder, a plurality of collection mediums disposed within the collection medium holder, and a collection medium applicator configured to releasably couple to a respective collection medium disposed within the collection medium holder.

Claims (58)

1. A mobile robot comprising:

one or more driven wheels;

one or more sensors configured to generate mapping data; and

a sample collector including:

a sample storage having a first sample receptacle and a second sample receptacle;

a first identifier associated with the first sample receptacle;

a second identifier associated with the second sample receptacle;

a first collection medium and a second collection medium; and

a collection medium applicator configured to:

releasably couple to the first collection medium;

contact the first collection medium with a location on a surface, wherein the location on the surface is determined using the mapping data and is associated with the first identifier; and

deposit the first collection medium in the first sample receptacle.

2. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein the first and second collection mediums each include a swab.

3. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein the sample collector further includes a collection medium holder that includes a cartridge having a cartridge body that defines a cartridge cavity, the cartridge cavity including a plurality of collection medium receptacles configured to receive a respective collection medium.

4. The mobile robot of claim 3 , wherein the cartridge is configured to be rotated.

5. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein the collection medium applicator is configured to agitate the first collection medium along the surface.

6. The mobile robot of claim 5 , wherein the one or more sensors include a surface type sensor configured to detect a surface type and the collection medium applicator agitates the first collection medium based, at least in part, on the detected surface type.

7. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein the collection medium applicator further includes one or more contact sensors configured to detect engagement of the first collection medium with the surface.

8. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein the collection medium applicator is configured to rotate the first collection medium about an actuation axis.

9. The mobile robot of claim 1 , wherein the collection medium applicator is configured to move the first collection medium along an actuation axis.

10. A bio-surveillance system comprising:

a mobile robot, the mobile robot including:

one or more driven wheels;

one or more sensors configured to generate mapping data; and

a sample collector including:

a collection medium holder;

a sample storage having a first sample receptacle and a second sample receptacle;

a first identifier associated with the first sample receptacle;

a second identifier associated with the second sample receptacle;

a first collection medium and a second plurality of collection medium disposed in the collection medium holder; and

a collection medium applicator configured to:

releasably couple to the first collection medium;

remove the first collection medium from the collection medium holder;

contact the first collection medium with a location on a surface, wherein the location on the surface is determined using the mapping data and is associated with the first identifier; and

deposit the first collection medium in the first sample receptacle; and

a docking station, the docking station configured to receive the first and second collection mediums.

11. The bio-surveillance system of claim 10 , wherein each of the first and the second collection mediums include a swab.

12. The bio-surveillance system of claim 10 , wherein the collection medium holder includes a cartridge having a cartridge body that defines a cartridge cavity, the cartridge cavity including a plurality of collection medium receptacles configured to receive a respective collection medium.

13. The bio-surveillance system of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge is configured to be rotated.

14. The bio-surveillance system of claim 10 , wherein the collection medium applicator is configured to agitate the first collection medium along the surface.

15. The bio-surveillance system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors include a surface type sensor configured to detect a surface type and the collection medium applicator agitates the first collection medium based, at least in part, on the detected surface type.

16. The bio-surveillance system of claim 10 , wherein the collection medium applicator further includes one or more contact sensors configured to detect engagement of the first collection medium with the surface.

17. The bio-surveillance system of claim 10 , wherein the collection medium holder includes the sample storage.

18. A robot comprising:

one or more sensors configured to generate mapping data; and

a sample collector including:

a collection medium holder;

a sample storage having a first sample receptacle and a second sample receptacle;

a first identifier associated with the first sample receptacle;

a second identifier associated with the second sample receptacle;

a first collection medium and a second plurality of collection medium disposed in the collection medium holder; and

a collection medium applicator configured to:

releasably couple to the first collection medium;

remove the first collection medium from the collection medium holder;

contact the first collection medium with a location on a surface, wherein the location on the surface is determined using the mapping data and is associated with the first identifier; and

deposit the first collection medium in the first sample receptacle. disposed within the collection medium holder.

19. The robot of claim 18 , wherein the collection medium holder includes a cartridge having a cartridge body that defines a cartridge cavity, the cartridge cavity including a plurality of collection medium receptacles configured to receive a respective collection medium.

20. The robot of claim 18 , wherein the collection medium holder includes the sample storage.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2022
From: GLASBRENNER, DAVID CARL
To: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 058801/0979 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63143709 · Jan 29, 2021
Related Publication 20220241984A1 · Aug 4, 2022
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