Assay apparatuses, methods and reagents
AssigneeMeso Scale Technologies, LLC.
InventorsCharles M. Clinton, Eli N. Glezer, Bandele Jeffrey-Coker, Sandor L. Kovacs, Sudeep M. Kumar, George Sigal, Carl Stevens, Michael Vock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
We describe apparatuses, systems, method, reagents, and kits for conducting assays as well as process for their preparation. They are particularly well suited for conducting automated sampling, sample preparation, and analysis in a multi-well plate assay format. For example, they may be used for automated analysis of particulates in air and/or liquid samples derived therefrom in environmental monitoring.
Claims18
An apparatus for conducting luminescence assays in multi-well plates having wells, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a light-tight enclosure comprising:
- (i) one or more plate elevators with a plate lifting platform that can be raised and lowered;
- (ii) a light-tight enclosure top comprising:
- one or more plate introduction apertures positioned above said one or more plate elevators;
- one or more pipetting probe apertures in the light-tight enclosure top;
- a piercing probe aperture in the light-tight enclosure top;
- an imaging aperture in the light-tight enclosure top;
- and
- a sliding light-tight door for sealing said plate introduction apertures,
- the sliding light-tight door comprising:
- a light-tight door pipetting probe aperture;
- and
- a light-tight door piercing probe aperture;
- and
- (iii) a plate translation stage for translating a multi-well plate in one or more horizontal directions comprising
- a plate carriage for supporting the multi-well plate, said plate carriage having an opening to allow said plate elevators positioned below the plate carriage to access and lift the plate, wherein
- said plate translation stage is configured to position plates below said imaging aperture and to position said multi-well plates above said plate elevators;
- (b) one or more plate stackers mounted on said light-tight enclosure top, above said plate introduction apertures, wherein said plate stackers are configured to receive or deliver plates to said plate elevators;
- (c) a light detector mounted on said light-tight enclosure top and coupled to said imaging aperture with a light-tight seal;
- and
- (d) a controller programmed to:
- (1) move the sliding light-tight door to a position where the sliding light-tight door unblocks said plate introduction apertures, while simultaneously blocking the piercing probe aperture in the light-tight enclosure top, the one or more pipetting probe apertures in the light-tight enclosure top, and the imaging aperture in the light-tight enclosure top;
- (2) move the sliding light-tight door to a position where the sliding light-tight door unblocks said imaging aperture, the piercing probe aperture in the light-tight enclosure top, and the one or more pipetting probe apertures in the light-tight enclosure top, while simultaneously blocking said plate introduction apertures by aligning the light-tight door piercing probe aperture and the light-tight door pipetting probe aperture with the piercing probe aperture of the light-tight enclosure top and the pipetting probe aperture of the light-tight enclosure top, respectively;
- and
- (3) move the sliding light-tight door to a position where the sliding light-tight door unblocks said imaging aperture, while simultaneously blocking the piercing probe aperture in the light-tight enclosure top, the one or more pipetting probe apertures in the light-tight enclosure top, and said plate introduction apertures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.