Positioning mechanism
AssigneeBiosurfit, S.A.
InventorTiago FILIPE PINTO SILVA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive system for aligning a detection zone of a cartridge with an image capture device is provided. The drive system can include a first motor configured for the purpose of spinning the cartridge to drive centrifugal flow of a liquid in the cartridge. The drive system can further include a second motor coupled to a cartridge-aligning member, configured for the purpose of aligning the detection zone with the image capture device. Advantageously, each motor can be adapted for its specific purpose.
Claims21
A drive system for spinning a liquid handling cartridge and aligning a detection zone of the cartridge with an image capture device, the drive system comprising:
- a cartridge-securing member being configured to securely engage a feature of the cartridge to enable rotation of the cartridge about an axis of rotation;
- a first motor coupled to the cartridge-securing member to drive rotation of the cartridge when the cartridge is engaged with the cartridge-engaging member;
- a cartridge-aligning member configurable in a first configuration such that movement of the cartridge-aligning member causes rotation of the cartridge about the axis, when the cartridge is engaged with the cartridge-engaging member, and in a second configuration such that the cartridge, when engaged with the cartridge-engaging member, is free to rotate about the axis independent of movement of the cartridge-aligning member;
- and
- a second motor coupled to the cartridge-aligning member to drive the cartridge-aligning member to align the detection zone of the cartridge and the image capture device.
A method of aligning a detection zone on a liquid handling cartridge with an image capture device, wherein the cartridge is secured to a first member defining an axis of rotation for the cartridge, the method comprising:
- engaging the cartridge with a second member;
- driving the second member to align a detection zone on the cartridge with the image capture device by rotating the cartridge at one or more rotational frequencies below a limit frequency to substantially avoid centrifugally driven liquid flow in the cartridge;
- receiving images from the image capture device while the detection zone is aligned with the image capture device;
- disengaging the second member from the cartridge;
- and
- driving the first member to spin the cartridge at one or more rotational frequencies exceeding the limit frequency to centrifugally drive liquid flow in the cartridge.
A drive system for spinning a liquid handling cartridge and aligning a detection zone of the cartridge with an image capture device, the drive system comprising:
- a cartridge-securing member being configured to securely engage a feature of the cartridge to enable rotation of the cartridge about an axis of rotation;
- a first motor coupled to the cartridge-securing member to drive rotation of the cartridge when the cartridge is engaged with the cartridge-engaging member;
- a wheel configurable in a first configuration such that movement of the wheel causes rotation of the cartridge about the axis, when the cartridge is engaged with the cartridge-engaging member, and in a second configuration such that the cartridge, when engaged with the cartridge-engaging member, is free to rotate about the axis independent of movement of the wheel;
- and
- a second motor coupled to the wheel to drive the wheel to align the detection zone of the cartridge and the image capture device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.