Apparatus for selectively holding and releasing an object in an analysis system

An apparatus for selectively holding and releasing a carrier in an analysis unit, the carrier being adapted to hold a sample for analysis, the apparatus comprising:

• a mounting bed adapted to support the carrier;
• a first arm assembly having an arm portion at a first end thereof and a magnetic portion at a second end thereof, said first arm assembly being mounted for rotation about a first axis, wherein said first axis is intermediate to said first end and said second end of said first arm assembly;
• a second arm assembly having an arm portion at a first end thereof and a magnetic portion at a second end thereof, said second arm assembly being mounted for rotation about a second axis that is generally parallel to said first axis, and wherein said second axis is intermediate to said first end and said second end of said second arm assembly;
• and
• a magnetic drive adapted to magnetically induce rotation of said magnetic portions of said first and second arm assemblies toward and away from one another about said first and second axes thereby causing corresponding rotation of said arm portions of said first and second arm assemblies between a first position in which the carrier may be accepted upon said mounting bed and a second position in which the carrier may be secured upon said mounting bed with the assistance of said arm portions.

An apparatus for transporting a slide in an analysis unit, the apparatus comprising:

• a slide carriage assembly comprising:
• a mounting bed adapted to support the slide,
• a first arm assembly having an arm portion at a first end thereof and a magnetic portion at a second end thereof, said first arm assembly being mounted for rotation about a first axis, wherein said first axis is intermediate to said first end and said second end of said first arm assembly,
• a second arm assembly having an arm portion at a first end thereof and a magnetic portion at a second end thereof, said second arm assembly being mounted for rotation about a second axis that is generally parallel to said first axis, and wherein said second axis is intermediate to said first end and said second end of said second arm assembly,
• a magnetic drive adapted to magnetically induce rotation of said magnetic portions of said first and second arm assemblies toward and away from one another about said first and second axes thereby causing corresponding rotation of said arm portions of said first and second arm assemblies between a first position in the slide may be accepted upon said mounting bed and a second position in which the slide may be secured upon said mounting bed with the assistance of said arm portions;
• and
• a carriage drive connected to move said slide carriage assembly between a plurality of positions within the analysis unit.

An apparatus for selectively holding and releasing a carrier during transport in an analysis unit, the apparatus comprising:

• a mounting bed adapted to contact the carrier;
• a first clamp member mounted for rotation about a first axis, said first clamp member having a carrier gripping end and a magnetic end disposed on opposite sides of said first axis;
• a second clamp member mounted for rotation about a second axis that is generally parallel to said first axis, said second clamp member having a carrier gripping end and a magnetic end disposed on opposite sides of said second axis;
• and
• a magnetic drive adapted to magnetically induce rotation of said magnetic ends of said first and second clamp members about said first and second axes, respectively, to thereby cause the axial rotation of the clamp members to secure the carrier to said mounting bed.

An analysis system, comprising:

• a slide adapted to receive a sample to be analyzed;
• a first arm mounted for rotation about a first axis, said first arm having a slide clamping portion and a magnetic portion, wherein said first axis is intermediate to said slide clamping portion and said magnetic portion of said first arm;
• a second arm mounted for rotation about a second axis, said second arm having a slide clamping portion and a magnetic portion, wherein said second axis is intermediate to said slide clamping portion and said magnetic portion of said second arm;
• a mounting bed adapted to support said slide, said mounting bed disposed intermediate to said first arm and said second arm;
• and
• a magnetic drive adapted to magnetically induce rotation of the magnetic portions of said first and second arms about the first and second axes, respectively, wherein said magnetically induced rotation axially rotates said object holding ends.