Led array for illuminating cell well plates and automated rack system for handling the same

An assembly for promoting growth of tissue samples requiring light to support proliferation, said assembly comprising:

• a plurality of plates, each of the plates defining therein a plurality of wells arranged in a well array, each of the plurality of wells configured to support and isolate one of the tissue samples;
• a rack including a plurality of supports spaced from each other and configured to support at least one of the plates;
• and
• a plurality of light-emitting diode array supported by the rack and cooperating respectively with the supports so that light from the light-emitting diode array shines into the wells of the plate and promotes growth of the tissue samples contained therein, wherein each of the light-emitting diode arrays comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged in an array corresponding to the well array of the plate such that each of the light emitting diodes is positioned opposite a respective one of the wells.

An assembly for promoting growth of tissue samples requiring light to support proliferation, said assembly comprising;

• a plurality of plates, each of the plates defining therein a plurality of wells arranged in a well array, each of the plurality of wells configured to support and isolate one of the tissue samples;
• a rack including a plurality of supports spaced from each other and configured to support at least one of the plates;
• and
• a plurality of light-emitting diode arrays supported by the rack and cooperating respectively with the supports so that light from the light-emitting diode array shines into the wells of the plate and promotes growth of the tissue samples contained therein, wherein each of the light-emitting diode arrays includes a circuit board and plurality of light-emitting diodes carried by the circuit board and wherein the rack further includes a plurality of card edge connectors each configured to receive the circuit board of one of the light-emitting diode arrays and support the circuit board and light-emitting diodes above the respective one of the shelves.

A system for high-throughput processing of tissue samples requiring light to support proliferation, said system comprising:

• a plurality of plates, each plate defining therein a plurality of wells arranged in a well array, each of the plurality of wells configured to isolate and hold one of the tissue samples;
• a rack having a plurality of shelves vertically spaced from each other, each of the shelves supporting at least one of the plates;
• a plurality of light-emitting diode arrays, each of the light-emitting diode arrays positioned above a respective one of the plurality of shelves so as to shine light into the wells of the plates;
• and
• an automated manipulation system including at least one plate manipulator having a range of motion wherein the rack is positioned so that the plates are within the range of motion of the plate manipulator and wherein the plate manipulator is capable of supporting and removing each plate from the rack for automated processing of the tissue samples contained therein.

A method of promoting growth of tissue samples contained in multiple well plates having a plurality of wells arranged in an array, wherein each well isolates and supports one of the tissue samples, said method comprising:

• loading the wells of the well plates with the tissue samples;
• positioning each well plate on a support opposite an array of light-emitting diodes;
• shining light from the light-emitting diodes into the respective wells of the well plates;
• removing each well plate from the support for additional downstream processing;
• and
• urging the well plate into a registered position on the support until each light-emitting diode is centered opposite a respective one of the wells of the well plates.

A method of promoting growth of tissue samples contained in multiple well plates having a plurality of wells arranged in an array, wherein each well isolates and supports one of the tissue samples, said method comprising:

• loading the wells of the well plates with the tissue samples;
• positioning each well plate on a support opposite an array of light-emitting diodes;
• shining light from the light-emitting diodes into the respective wells of the well plates;
• and
• removing each well plate from the support for additional downstream processing;
• wherein loading, positioning and supporting are performed by an automated system.

An assembly for promoting growth of tissue samples requiring light to support proliferation, said assembly comprising:

• a plurality of plates, each of the plates defining therein a plurality of wells arranged in a well array, each of the plurality of wells configured to support and isolate one of the tissue samples;
• a rack including a plurality of shelves and a plurality of card edge connectors, said shelves vertically spaced from each other with each shelf supporting at least one of the plates in a register depression which urges the plate into a register position and said card edge connectors each positioned above a respective one of the shelves;
• and
• a plurality of light-emitting diode arrays supported above the shelves by the card edge connectors, each of the light-emitting diode arrays including a plurality of light-emitting diodes and a circuit board, said circuit board carrying the light-emitting diodes in an array corresponding to the well array of the plate such that each of the light emitting diodes is positioned opposite a respective one of the wells and centered over its respective well when the plate is in the registered position.

A method of promoting growth of tissue samples contained in multiple well plates having a plurality of wells arranged in an array, wherein each well isolates and supports one of the tissue samples, said method comprising:

• loading the wells of the well plates with the tissue samples;
• automatically positioning each well plate on a support opposite an array of light-emitting diodes;
• shining light from the light-emitting diodes into the wells of the well plates;
• and
• automatically removing each well plate from the support for additional downstream processing.