Microplate storage apparatus and method

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention has a side panel with integrated shelving members and integrated locating members, both folded from the side panel. One method of fabricating the shelving members involves cutting a template of the shelving members and locating members onto the side panel and then folding the cut portions of the side panel to form shelving members and locating members.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to storage devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to microplate storage devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Determining and achieving the proper conditions that allow a protein to crystallize from solution often requires many attempts before the proper concentrations of protein and reagents is determined and achieved. Furthermore, even when the conditions permit crystallization, the rate of crystallization is often very slow, at times on the order of weeks or even months. As a result, manually performing protein crystallization experiments is a very labor and time intensive process. One method of increasing the chances of obtaining protein crystals in the first experiment, thus saving a significant amount of time, is to try as many different protein and reagent concentrations as possible in the initial experiment. [0003] Because protein crystallization experiments have traditionally been...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for fabricating the side panel is provided. The method includes laser cutting the shelving member and locating members onto the side panel at the same time from a single template, and then folding the cut portions of the side panel to form shelving members and locating members.

Problems solved by technology

Determining and achieving the proper conditions that allow a protein to crystallize from solution often requires many attempts before the proper concentrations of protein and reagents is determined and achieved.

Furthermore, even when the conditions permit crystallization, the rate of crystallization is often very slow, at times on the order of weeks or even months.

As a result, manually performing protein crystallization experiments is a very labor and time intensive process.

Furthermore, because the preparing of the vast number of microplates and the periodic checking of each microplate for protein crystals are so labor intensive, automated protein crystallizers have been developed.

The multiple microplate storage hotels of an automated protein crystallizer provide high density storage of microplates, but also make up a significant fraction of the total cost of the crystallizer.

One problem when constructing complex, automated instruments using multiple microplate storage hotels is the need to know where each hotel and microplate is positioned, as well as the hotel's alignment and registration relative to other hotels and to the system frame.

If the microplate storage hotel is not properly positioned, then the robotic plate handler cannot properly engage the microplates in the hotel.

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