High-throughput sample processing systems and methods of use

Abstract

Disclosed herein are high-throughput sample processing systems and waste management systems, and methods of using the same.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for processing waste produced by a high-throughput sample processing system, comprising:
 pumping, with a first pump, first liquid waste from a first liquid waste source to a first container by electronically opening first and second valves;   moving second liquid waste from a second liquid waste source to a second container via gravity;   pumping, with the first pump, the second liquid waste from the second container into the first container by electronically opening a third valve;   pumping, with a second pump, sterilizing fluid from a third container into the first container by electronically opening a fourth valve;   incubating the first and second liquid wastes in the first container with the sterilizing fluid for a predetermined period of time; and   draining the incubated first and second liquid wastes from the first container after the predetermined period of time by electronically opening a fifth valve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 drawing the first liquid waste from a plurality of sample wells through a plurality of fluid aspirators connected to the first pump into the first container.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring at least one of the first and second liquid wastes with a scale.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing overflow liquid waste from the first container into a fourth container.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of the sterilizing fluid that is to be pumped into the first container.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pumping, with the first pump, the first liquid waste from the first liquid waste source into a fourth container by electronically closing the first and second valves, and electronically opening sixth and seventh valves.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 directing overflow liquid waste from the fourth container into a fifth container.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 pumping, with the first pump, the second liquid waste from the second container into the fourth container.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 pumping, with the second pump, the sterilizing fluid from the third container into the fourth container by electronically closing the fourth valve, and electronically opening an eighth valve;   incubating the first and second liquid wastes in the fourth container with the sterilizing fluid for another predetermined period of time; and   draining the incubated first and second liquid wastes from the fourth container after the other predetermined period of time by electronically opening a ninth valve.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of the sterilizing fluid that is to be pumped into the fourth container.   
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a controller, direct the controller to process waste produced by a high-throughput sample processing system, the instructions directing the controller to:
 pump, with a first pump, first liquid waste from a first liquid waste source to a first container by electronically opening first and second valves;   move second liquid waste from a second liquid waste source to a second container via gravity;   pump, with the first pump, the second liquid waste from the second container into the first container by electronically opening a third valve;   pump, with a second pump, sterilizing fluid from a third container into the first container by electronically opening a fourth valve;   incubate the first and second liquid wastes in the first container with the sterilizing fluid for a predetermined period of time; and   drain the incubated first and second liquid wastes from the first container after the predetermined period of time by electronically opening a fifth valve.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions that direct the controller to:
 draw the first liquid waste from a plurality of sample wells through a plurality of fluid aspirators connected to the first pump into the first container.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions that direct the controller to:
 measure at least one of the first and second liquid wastes with a scale.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions that direct the controller to:
 direct overflow liquid waste from the first container into a fourth container.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions that direct the controller to:
 determine an amount of the sterilizing fluid that is to be pumped into the first container.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions that direct the controller to:
 pump, with the first pump, the first liquid waste from the first liquid waste source into a fourth container by electronically closing the first and second valves, and electronically opening sixth and seventh valves.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising instructions that direct the controller to:
 direct overflow liquid waste from the fourth container into a fifth container.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising instructions that direct the controller to:
 pump, with the first pump, the second liquid waste from the second container into the fourth container.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprising instructions that direct the controller to:
 pump, with the second pump, the sterilizing fluid from the third container into the fourth container by electronically closing the fourth valve, and electronically opening an eighth valve;   incubate the first and second liquid wastes in the fourth container with the sterilizing fluid for another predetermined period of time; and   drain the incubated first and second liquid wastes from the fourth container after the other predetermined period of time by electronically opening a ninth valve.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , further comprising instructions that direct the controller to:
 determine an amount of the sterilizing fluid that is to be pumped into the fourth container.