377results about "Lab clamping means" patented technology

Luminescence test measurements are conducted using an assay module having integrated electrodes with a reader apparatus adapted to receive assay modules, induce luminescence, preferably electrode induced luminescence, in the wells or assay regions of the assay modules and measure the induced luminescence.

A filling apparatus for filling a microplate. The microplate having a plurality of wells each sized to receive an assay. The filling apparatus can comprise an output layer having a plurality of capillaries. Each of the plurality of capillaries can comprises an inlet and an outlet. A funnel assembly can comprise a funnel member sized to receive the assay. The funnel member can comprise an outlet for delivering a fluid bead of the assay along a top surface of the output layer and in fluid communication with each of the plurality of capillaries such that a portion of the fluid bead can be drawn within at least some of the plurality of capillaries in response to capillary force. The funnel assembly and the output layer can be moveable relative to each other between a first position and a second position to draw the fluid bead across the top surface.

A vacuum assist apparatus can comprise a microplate. The microplate can comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface. A plurality of wells can be formed in the first surface of the microplate. Each of the plurality of wells can be sized to receive an assay therein. A support base can comprise a fluid passage. The microplate can be positioned adjacent and in contact with the support base. A pressure device, in fluid communication with the fluid passage, can exert a vacuum within the fluid passage to actively retain the microplate in the contact with the support base.

An automated seal applicator for applying a sealing cover to a microplate. The microplate can comprise a plurality of wells for receiving an assay. The automated seal applicator can comprise a housing and a sealing cover cartridge containing a sealing cover releasably carried on a carrier liner. The sealing cover can be at least partially contained within the sealing cover cartridge. A sealing cover drive system can engage the sealing cover and/or the carrier liner and maintain a predetermined alignment of the sealing cover relative to the microplate.

A container for holding a biologic fluid sample for analysis is provided which includes a chamber and a label. The chamber includes a first wall, a transparent second wall, and a plurality of features including features spatially located within the chamber. The transparent second wall permits a fluid sample quiescently residing within the chamber to be imaged through the second wall. The plurality of features, including those spatially located within the chamber, are operable to enable the analysis of the biologic fluid. The label directly or indirectly contains information regarding the features and the spatial location of the features within the chamber. The sample is analyzed by an analytical device that utilizes the information communicated through the label.

The invention provides sample tracking systems and methods. A sample tracking system can comprise a plate having a plurality of sample wells and an apparatus for illuminating each individual sample well, wherein the manner with which the sample well is illuminated can track the loading of the sample components to the sample wells.

An apparatus for normalizing a PCR instrument, can comprise a microplate comprising at least 6,000 wells and a system of dyes at known concentrations in a plurality of the at least 6,000 wells. A method for normalizing a system can comprise (a) providing a microplate comprising at least 6,000 wells and a system of dyes; (b) exciting at least one dye; (c) detecting an emission output for the at least one dye; (d) determining if the emission output is in an acceptable range; and (e) adjusting the system so that the emission output is in the acceptable range.

A filling apparatus for filling a microplate. The microplate can comprise a plurality of wells each sized to receive an assay. A substrate can comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first assay input port for receiving the assay disposed on the first surface, a plurality of staging capillaries extending through the substrate, and a first plurality of microfluidic channels fluidly coupling the first assay input port with at least one of the plurality of staging capillaries. Each of the plurality of staging capillaries can comprise an inlet and an outlet and be sized to receive the assay.

A fluid distribution system comprising a table, an alignment stage, and a plurality of processing stations. The table can be configured to engage at least one of a plurality of microplates and can be movable at least in an X-axis direction. The alignment stage can be configured to move the table at least in a Y-axis direction that differs from the X-axis direction. The plurality of processing stations comprises at least one or more dispensing stations and a plate-handling station. Each of the one or more dispensing stations comprises a dispensing device adapted to dispense fluid into or onto one or more of a plurality of microplates, and the plate-handling station comprises a plate-handling device adapted to selectively pick up and deposit on the table individual microplates from a plurality of microplates, at least one at a time. Methods of preparing microplates are also provided as are systems and methods for tracking microplates during microplate preparation, methods of avoiding cross-contamination during microplate sample loading, and methods of dispensing fluids while preparing a plurality of microplates.

The present invention relates to a method for determining a home position by means of a home position mark on a special microfluidic device type used in a microfluidic system. The method for determining a home position by means of a home position mark on a microfluidic device used in a microfluidic system comprising at least one programmable controller having storage means, a position device being able to communicate with the controller, and a home position mark detector connected to said controller, wherein said method comprises the following steps: scanning a disc for mark edges; rejecting false home mark(s) and identifying a correct home position mark; and determining a home position by use of mark edges of the correct home position mark identified in the previous step. The present invention also relates to a microfluidic system and a computer program product and a computer program product on a computer usable medium.

The invention discloses a single-molecule gene sequencer, and belongs to technical schemes of the field of gene sequencing. The single-molecule gene sequencer comprises a base, wherein a clamping platform, a reagent storing device, a fluid control device, a moving platform and a total-reflection microscope are arranged on the base; a gene sequencing chip is arranged on the clamping platform; the reagent storing device is used for storing a gene sequencing reagent; the fluid control device is used for pumping the gene sequencing reagent into the gene sequencing chip from the reagent storing device; the moving platform is used for driving the clamping platform to move to or away from the part below the a total-reflection microscope; the total-reflection microscope is used for detecting gene sequences of samples in the gene sequencing chip. The scheme has no library development flow or PCR, is simple and convenient to operate and low in sequencing cost, and is a diagnosis and treatment method very applicable to clinical application.

An inverted microplate for conducting a thermocycled amplification reaction of polynucleotide. The microplate can comprise a main body having a first and second surfaces and a plurality of wells disposed in the first surface. Each of the plurality of wells can comprise a well opening and a well bottom and be sized to receive an assay. A sealing cover can be operably coupled to the first surface of the main body to seal the well openings of the plurality of wells when the main body is inverted so that the assay is in contact with the sealing covering cover.

A sample preparation system provides an automated process that dispenses appropriate amounts of solid material into wells of a microtiter plate for mixing into a suspension. The system utilizes an array of hollow tubes that are lowered into a particle reservoir such that particle material is forced up into the tubes. During loading, solid plungers in the tubes are positioned a known distance from the open end of the tubes. When the particle material is to be dispensed, the plungers are lowered to push the particle material out of the tubes and into receiving wells of the microtiter plate. The plunger stroke and internal diameter of the tubes defines the dispensed volume of particle material.

A method of testing compatibility of a detection probe comprising an oligonucleotide and a fluorophore to a composition of a sealing cover, can comprise (a) depositing a quantity of the fluorophore into a plurality of containers; (b) providing a plurality of sealing covers; (c) sealing the plurality of containers with each of the plurality of the sealing covers; (d) exciting the fluorophore; (e) measuring an emission intensity from the fluorophore; and (f) evaluating the emission intensity from the fluorophore to determine the relative compatibility of each of the plurality of sealing covers with the fluorophore.

A microplate having a main body portion. The main body portion having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and a groove disposed about the first surface of the main body portion. The groove separates the main body portion into an inboard section and an outboard section. A plurality of wells are formed in the inboard section of the first surface and each of the plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein.

A filling apparatus for filling a microplate. The microplate having a plurality of wells each sized to receive an assay. The filling apparatus can comprise an assay input layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface. The assay input layer can comprise an assay input port extending from the first surface to the second surface, a venting manifold formed in the second surface, and a vent hole in fluid communication with the venting manifold and atmosphere. An output layer can comprise a plurality of staging capillaries each having an inlet and an outlet. A venting layer can be disposed between the assay input layer and the output layer. The venting layer can comprise a plurality of microfluidic channels, a flow aperture being in fluid communication with the assay input port and the plurality of microfluidic channels, and a plurality of vent apertures each in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of staging capillaries. Two or more of the plurality of vent apertures can be in fluid communication with the venting manifold.