# US 2014/0233098 A1 · Diagnostic apparatus

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- Number: US 2014/0233098 A1
- Document ID: US20140233098A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/239,208
- Filed: 2013-07-02
- Published: 2014-08-21
- Earliest claimed: 2012-07-03
- Assignees: Advanced Animal Diagnostics, Inc.
- Applicants: Advanced Animal Diagnostics, Inc.
- Inventors: Stefano Bresolin; David A. Calderwood; Tobias M. Heineck; David Newcomb; Chris Paul; Jasper N. Pollard; Rodolfo R. Rodriguez; Demetris Young
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140233098A1

## CPC

- G02B 21/26: Stages; Adjusting means therefor
- G01N 33/48785: {Electrical and electronic details of measuring devices for physical analysis of liquid biological material not specific to a particular test method, e.g. user interface or power supply}
- G02B 21/0016: {Technical microscopes, e.g. for inspection or measuring in industrial production processes}
- G06F 1/20: Cooling means
- G02B 21/28: with cooling device
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An automated microscope apparatus comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in the housing configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in the outer housing; a microscope assembly in the housing (preferably in the first compartment); a microprocessor in the housing (preferably in the second compartment), and (optionally but preferably) a heat sink mounted on the housing external wall, preferably adjacent the second compartment, with the microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with the microscope assembly. Systems and methods employing the same are also described, along with component parts thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automated microscope apparatus, comprising:
an outer housing having an external wall;
an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing;
a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall adjacent said second compartment;
a microscope assembly in said first compartment; and
a microprocessor in said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, said microscope assembly comprising:
a support frame
a subframe;
a plurality of vibration isolators connecting said support frame to said subframe;
an XYZ stage connected to said subframe; and
an optical stage connected to said subframe.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an XYZ drive interconnecting said XYZ stage to said subframe.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a passively cooled microprocessor assembly, comprising:
a heat sink having a front surface and back surface;
a circuit board having a front surface and back surface, with said microprocessor mounted on said circuit board front surface;
a thermal coupler positioned between said microprocessor and said heat sink back surface, said thermal coupler fixed to and in thermal contact with said heat sink back surface;
a clamp connected to said thermal coupler and configured to clamp said microprocessor to said thermal coupler, thereby placing said microprocessor, said thermal coupler, and said heat sink in thermal contact with one another.

### Claim 5

An automated microscope apparatus, comprising:
(a) an outer housing
(b) a microscope assembly in said housing, said microscope assembly comprising:
a support frame;
a subframe;
a plurality of vibration isolators connecting said support frame to said subframe;
an XYZ stage connected to said subframe; and
an optical stage connected to said subframe,

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The automated microscope of claim 5, further comprising:
(c) a passively cooled microprocessor assembly in said housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The automated microscope of claim 6, said passively cooled microprocessor assembly comprising:
a heat sink having a front surface and back surface;
a circuit board having a front surface and back surface,
a microprocessor mounted on said circuit board front surface;
a thermal coupler positioned between said microprocessor and said heat sink back surface, said thermal coupler fixed to and in thermal contact with said heat sink back surface; and
a clamp connected to said thermal coupler and configured to clamp said microprocessor to said thermal coupler, thereby placing said microprocessor, said thermal coupler, and said heat sink in thermal contact with one another.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The automated microscope of claim 7, wherein said thermal coupler comprises a copper slug or heat pipe.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The automated microscope of claim 8, further comprising at least one interconnecting member formed from a thermally nonconductive material, wherein said thermal coupler and said clamp are connected to one another through said at least one interconnecting member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The automated microscope of claim 8, wherein said clamp comprises a rigid frame, a movable clamping member, and a screw or lever interconnecting said frame and clamping member, with said rigid frame connected to said thermal coupler, and said clamping member configured to clamp said microprocessor to said thermal coupler.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The automated microscope of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of legs connected to said heat sink back surface, said circuit board mounted on said legs, with said circuit board front surface spaced from and facing said heat sink back surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The automated microscope of claim 8, said heat sink having cooling projections fins on said heat sink front surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The automated microscope of claim 8, wherein said microprocessor has a thermal design power rating of at least 40 Watts.

### Claim 14

A microscope assembly for use in an automated microscope apparatus, comprising:
a support frame;
a subframe;
a plurality of vibration isolators connecting said support frame to said subframe;
an XYZ stage connected to said subframe; and
an optical stage connected to said subframe.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The microscope assembly of claim 14, further comprising an XYZ drive interconnecting said XYZ stage to said subframe.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The microscope assembly of claim 14,said XYZ stage configured to receive a sample cartridge having an end portion, a pair of generally parallel opposing side edge portions, and a locking edge portion formed thereon;
said XYZ stage comprising:
a base member having a planar stage surface portion;
a pair of generally parallel oppositely facing guide members on said planar stage surface and configured for slideably receiving said cartridge therebetween;
a locking member on said planar stage surface portion and positioned to press against the sample cartridge locking edge portion when said sample cartridge is inserted between said guide members, so that pressure is exerted by said lock member through said sample cartridge against at least one of said guide members, whereby the cartridge is removably locked in place on the XYZ stage in the Z plane.