Liquid handling

An analysis system comprising

• analysis stations structure,
• sample station structure spaced from said analysis station structure along a straight line path,
• support shaft structure disposed along an axis parallel to said straight line path,
• a transport carriage, probe structure mounted on said transport carriage, said transport carriage being mounted on said support shaft structure for movement along said support shaft structure and keyed thereto for pivoting movement in response to rotation of said support shaft structure,
• first drive means including a drive motor and flexible cable structure coupled between said carriage and said drive motor for moving said transport carriage along said shaft structure to selectively position said probe structure at said sample and analysis stations, said flexible cable structure including a drive sheave coupled to said drive motor, an idler sheave spaced from said drive sheave along a path parallel to said straight line path, and a flexible cable that is trained about said idler sheave, both ends of said flexible cable being connected to said drive sheave,
• second drive means for rotating said shaft structure for inserting said probe structure into and withdrawing said probe structure from chamber structure at said sample and analysis station structures, and
• metering means coupled to said probe structure for flowing liquid into and discharging liquid from said probe structure.

A sample analysis system comprising

• a plurality of flow network module structures, each said flow network module structure defining a contained array of flow channels and a plurality of valves for controlling liquid flow through the flow channel array, each said module structure being adapted to be connected to an external source for applying a pressure differential to the flow channel array to produce liquid flow within channels of said array and each said module structure having chamber structure connected to said flow channel array with port structure at an outer surface of said module structure, valve structure movable between a first position in which said port structure is closed and a second position in which said port structure is open,
• a corresponding plurality of sensor modules,
• liquid transfer structure comprising transport structure and probe structure carried on said transport structure, said liquid transfer structure being arranged for movement between a source of liquid to be analyzed and said plurality of flow network module structures and including actuator structure carried on said transport structure for moving said valve structure from its first position to its second position concurrently with the movement of the probe structure into alignment with the chamber port structure for delivery of a quantity of sample material to the sample chamber and subsequent flow through the flow network array for interaction with an auxiliary fluid and transfer to an associated sensor module under the influence of an external pressure source.

A sample analysis system comprising a plurality of flow network module structures are located along a straight line path,

• each said flow network module structure defining a contained array of flow channels and a plurality of valves for controlling liquid flow through the flow channel array, each said module structure being adapted to be connected to an external source for applying a pressure differential to the flow channel array to produce liquid flow within channels of said array and each said module structure having chamber structure connected to said flow channel array with port structure at an outer surface of said module structure and valve structure movable between a first position in which said port structure is closed and a second position in which said port structure is open,
• sample station structure spaced from said module structures along said straight line path,
• support shaft structure disposed along an axis parallel to said straight line path,
• said liquid transfer structure includes a transport carriage that is mounted on said shaft structure for movement along said shaft structure and keyed thereto for pivoting movement in response to rotation of said shaft structure, probe structure carried on said transport carriage,
• first drive means including a drive motor and flexible cable structure coupled between said carriage and said drive motor for moving said transport carriage along said shaft to selectively position said probe structure at said sample and module structures,
• second drive means for rotating said shaft structure for inserting said probe structure into and withdrawing said probe structure from chamber structures of said module structures, and
• metering means coupled to said probe structure for flowing liquid into and discharging liquid from said probe structure.