Specimen collection methods, robots, and systems

Contactless Specimen Collection Robot Combining Pressure Sensor Contact Detection and Swab Stick Cutting

This technology is an automated specimen collection method, robot, and system that detects contact with the oropharynx and nasopharynx using a pressure sensor installed on the swab gripper of a multi-jointed robotic arm, collects specimens by rotating the swab with an actuator, and cuts the swab stick using a separate cutter mechanism.

During manual specimen collection, medical staff face a risk of secondary infection due to close proximity to the patient. Furthermore, manual collection often leads to positioning errors, specimen contamination, and significant downtime for equipment sterilization.

This technology automates specimen collection through pressure sensor-based contact detection and actuator control, while ensuring thorough sterilization using a combined heat and UV system with a rotating mechanism. It can be applied to infectious disease screening and unmanned testing centers, eliminating infection risks for medical staff while ensuring consistent specimen quality.

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Key Features:

• A first object gripping unit configured to include a receiving hole into which the swab used for collecting the patient's specimen is inserted
• A sensor unit that detects contact between the swab and the patient's oropharynx or nasopharynx, and a first actuator that rotates the first object gripping unit
• A robot control unit configured to activate the first actuator based on the contact detection results from the sensor unit
• A cutter that protrudes from the wall of the receiving hole to cut the swab stick once the swab has been transferred to the transport medium

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for the development and application of IoT and AI-based automated shock treatment devices.