Adept Technology enables High Quality Sample Handling for Becton Dickinson Viper Sample Processor System

Adept Technology has placed its robots into medical and lab environments for automating a variety of applications, including lab sample handling, medical kits assembly, and also testing and inspection enabled through Adept's vision technology.

Becton Dickinson, a long standing customer of Adept Technology, is a medical technology company. One of their diagnostic products, the BD Viper Sample Processor system, automates the sample handling associated with high volume amplified molecular testing of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae performed on the BD ProbeTec ET System. The BD Viper system machine uses the Adept Cobra s600 CX (4-axis SCARA) robotic system as an automated sample preparation instrument.

The Adept Cobra s600 SCARA robot is a high-performance SCARA robot system for mechanical assembly, material handling, packaging, machine tending, screwdriving, and many other operations requiring fast and precise automation.

The robot offers maximum flexibility and scalability, a dramatic 70% reduction in wiring over other SCARA robots, and unique cost-saving expansion capabilities that are only available with Adept SmartServo based controls and the amplifiers are built right into the robot. The Adept Cobra s600 SCARA robot supports high-performance options, including conveyor tracking, vision guided motion, auxiliary servo axes, general machine control.

Some advantages of using this robot are high repeatability and its small footprint, which saves valuable workspace. It achieves maximum reliability by performing pipetting transfers without the use of syringe pumps and tubing.

Minimal routine maintenance is required as a result of the BD Viper Sample Processor's simple, reliable design. Technicians benefit with the reduction of repetitive motions. Also, the accuracy of pipetting is enhanced, compared to manual pipetting where fatigue and distraction can cause errors. Overall, the BD Viper Sample Processor improves laboratory efficiency by reducing labor, while at the same time assuring high throughput accuracy.

Through provision of the Adept Cobra robots as an automation solution, Adept continues to be a positive force behind Becton Dickinson's quest to provide low- maintenance, cost-effective yet high quality diagnostic products that will enable high volume sample handling and testing for the medical industry.