Loading patent…
AssigneeCaliper Technologies Corp.
InventorsJoseph E. Kercso, Steven A. Sundberg, Jeffrey A. Wolk, Andrew W. Toth, Calvin Y. H. Chow, J. Wallace Parce
Estimating the term…
The invention provides improved systems, devices, and methods for analyzing a large number of sample compounds contained in standard multiwell microtiter plates or other array structures. The multiwell plates travel along a conveyor system to a test station having a microfluidic device. At the test station, each plate is removed from the conveyor and the wells of the multiwell plate are sequentially aligned with an input port of the microfluidic device. After at least a portion of each sample has been input into the microfluidic channel system, the plate is returned to the conveyor system. Pre and/or post testing stations may be disposed along the conveyor system, and the use of an X-Y-Z robotic arm and novel plate support bracket allows each of the samples in the wells to be input into the microfluidic network through a probe affixed to a microfluidic chip. A clamshell structure having a hinged lid can releasably support the chip while providing and/or accommodating the electrical, optical, structural, and other interface connections between the microfluidic device and the surrounding system.
A support structure for robotic manipulation of a plurality of assay samples, the assay samples disposed in wells of a plurality of plates, each plate having an upper surface and a lower surface with front, back, left, and right edge surfaces extending therebetween, the support structure comprising:
A support system for robotic manipulation of a plurality of assay samples, the support system comprising:
A support structure for robotic manipulation of a plurality of assay samples, the assay samples disposed in wells of a plurality of plates, each plate having an upper surface and a lower surface with front, back, left, and right edge surfaces extending therebetween with a plate width defined between the left and right edge surfaces, the support structure comprising:
A support structure for robotic manipulation of a plurality of assay samples, the assay samples disposed in wells of a plurality of plates, each plate having an upper surface and a lower surface with front, back, left, and right edge surfaces extending therebetween and a recess between the wells and front edge, the support structure comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.