669 results about "Microwell Plate" patented technology

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 pipette station is described for use in the field of sample analysis. The pipette station increases the rate and ease with which a liquid may be manipulated into and out of sample carriers such as microwell plates. The pipette station includes shafts in the X, Y, and Z direction which possess ball screws which are integrated with motor shafts thus improving accuracy and eliminating the need for a coupling apparatus thereby reducing the space required for the pipette station. The pipette station may be interfaced with an automated laboratory system.

The invention provides a simple method, device and several machines for simultaneously stirring thousands of vessels or wells of microplates in a robust manner and with economy. This method uses the simple principle of magnetic stirrers aligning themselves to a vertical driving magnetic field placed beneath them and moving laterally or by moving the vessels over a stationary magnetic field or by spinning the drive magnets, or by using a modulating/reversing electromagnetic field to produce the moving effect. Each vessel contains a magnetic disc, bar, dowel or other shape (stirrers) which in it's magnetic attraction to the vertical driving magnetic field will cause it to move and align it's magnetic field as the opposite poles of the drive magnet and the stirrer attract each other. The attraction of the stirrers to the vertical driving magnetic field causes the stirrers to stand on end and tumble as the stir devices try to align to the opposite moving magnetic pole. The stirrers tumble because the walls of the vessels or friction with the vessel bottom prevents their lateral movement.

The present invention pertains to a portable apparatus for quantitatively measuring the concentration of specific substances in test samples of a lateral flow or microplate assay in medical, biomedical and chemical applications, and for making subsequent analysis and diagnosis. The portable apparatus includes a sample tray for carrying and aligning the test sample in the apparatus; a enclosure that may also serves as the frame of the apparatus; a digital image acquisition system that is used to obtain the digital image of the test sample on the sample tray; and a data display, processing, and analysis unit that is a general purpose or dedicated computer, such as a handheld computer (HHC), a pocket personal computer (PPC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a palm-top computer, a laptop computer, or a dedicated microprocessor and associated hardware, for measuring the concentration of specific substances in the test sample, and making subsequent analysis and diagnosis, based on the measurement, statistical data, prior knowledge and mathematical model. The stated enclosure and frame, the digital image acquisition system, and the data display, processing and analysis unit are integrated to form the portable apparatus for various applications. The integrated apparatus of this invention, with a possible name—Portable Intelligent Multi-Diagnoser (PIMD), thus forms a portable and multiple-purpose tool for measuring the concentration of specific substances in test samples, and making subsequent analysis and diagnosis in a variety of settings, such as a mobile site, point of care or near patient care, and small laboratories.

Optical Integrated Circuits (OIC) in Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Analysis Systems combined with micorarray or microwell plates to provide enhanced sensitivity, stability, speed of analysis and reduced size are disclosed. Using the OIC with other optical analysis methods to provide enhance analysis systems is also disclosed.

Laboratory Automated System and method for specimen processing, comprising several Clinical and Biological Analytical Modules is provided. The Module consists of coupling centrifuge, analyzers and robot. System produces rapid phase separation, cap removing and testing in one sequential, unbroken process. Several multi-item carriers for tubes and microplates loading provided.

A closure device is provided which includes a flexible cover with an array of protruding hollow caps which are formed integrally with and depend from the cover. The caps have cup shaped noses with cylindrical side walls joined to the cover by inwardly tapered intermediate wall sections. The caps form a friction fit with an array of mutually spaced receptacles, for example test tubes, deep well blocks or microwell plates.

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.

Methods for amplifying polynucleotides, e.g., by PCR, in a sample comprising polynucleotide targets present at very low concentration, comprising: (a) applying amplification reactants to the surface of a substrate comprising reaction spots, wherein the reactants comprise the sample and an amplification reagent; (b) forming a sealed reaction chamber, having a volume less than about 120 nanoliters, preferably less than about 20 nanoliters, over each of said reaction spots; and (c) thermal cycling the substrate and reactants. In one embodiment, the forming step comprises loading a sealing fluid, e.g., mineral oil, on the surface so as to cover the reaction spots. The present invention also provides microplates, comprising: (a) a substrate having at least about 10,000 reaction spots, each comprising a primer and a droplet of reagent having a volume less than about 120 nanoliters, preferably less then about 20 nanoliters; and (b) a sealing liquid isolating each of the spots.

Photonic crystal (PC) sensors, and sensor arrays and sensing systems incorporating PC sensors are described which have integrated fluid containment and/or fluid handling structures. The PC sensors are further integrated into a sample handling device such as a microwell plate. Sensors and sensing systems of the present disclosure are capable of high throughput sensing of analytes in fluid samples, bulk refractive index detection, and label-free detection of a range of molecules, including biomolecules and therapeutic candidates. The present disclosure also provides a commercially attractive fabrication platform for making photonic crystal sensors and systems wherein an integrated fluid containment structure and a photonic crystal structure are fabricated in a single molding or imprinting processing step amendable to high throughput processing.

The invention discloses laser-array pore molding devices and a method. The steps of the invention includes that, firstly, pore diameter, pore distance and caliber parameter of a pore plate are set, and a processing file is produced, secondly, laser power, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency and pulse count are set, thirdly, the parameter of light beam location scanning is set, fourthly, work-pieces are located, a visual system is located, and vacuum negative pressure absorbs a probe guide plate, fifthly, pressure and flow capacity of opening assistant gas are set, the processing is started, finally, the pore diameter, the pore distance and the caliber parameter are measured after the finishing of the processing. The laser-array pore molding devices include an ultraviolet solid laser with high repetition rate and ultrashort pulse, a laser beam generator, a collimation beam-expanding device, a shutter, a light beam location scanning device, a CCD visual location system, an XYZ displacement working platform, and a vacuum negative pressure absorbing-sheet frame. The invention has the advantages that the disadvantages of low efficiency, easy damage of a 'punch', changeable pore diameter and the like which exit in the present mechanical punching manner are overcome, dynamic digital hologram is directly pressed on the surface of the material of noble metal commemorative coins, thereby ensuring the esthetics of the commemorative coins.

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 microplate cover assembly which is compatible with manual workstations or robotic handling systems used for high throughput screening. The cover assembly includes a cover, a pressure plate and a layer of sealing material. The cover is shaped such that when it is engaged with a microplate, the cover exerts a compressive force on the pressure plate, which in turn disperses the force in a substantially uniform manner across the layer of sealing material. The cover and pressure plate also include laterally-extending tabs which allow it to be engaged with or disengaged from a microplate in a fully automated fashion.

Systems, including methods, apparatus, compositions, and kits, for multiplexed assay of cell migration with subdivided cell holders and/or microplates.

An apparatus for random access storage and retrieval of a plurality of microplates is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of microplate racks arranged in a stack. Each of the racks is mechanically engaged with a plurality of support columns and each of the columns has a plurality of locking devices corresponding to the plurality of racks. The apparatus also includes a lift, coupled to the support columns, for moving the stack or a portion thereof, and a controller coupled to the lift and the locking devices. The controller is responsive to a signal to access a desired rack or microplate to cause actuation of one or more of the locking devices corresponding to the rack adjacent to the desired rack or microplate, followed by actuation of the lift, thereby moving a portion of the stack a sufficient distance to allow access to the desired rack or microplate.

A microwell device comprises a fluid vessel having a bottom region. A microwell plate is at the bottom region. The microwell plate comprises an upper region defining an upper plane. A plurality of microwells extend downwardly from the upper plane. Each of the microwells comprises an axis extending perpendicularly to the upper plane. Each of the microwells comprises a sidewall. The sidewall of at least one of the microwells has at least one wall component extending inwardly towards the axis.

A plate stacker is described for use in the field of sample analysis. The plate stacker increases the rate and ease with which sample carriers such as microwell plates may be interfaced with an automated system and includes a removable rack attached to a base to allow plates to be transported to and from an automated system. The stacker rack includes a door which allows for a compact stacker thus allowing manipulation of the microwell plates in a compact area. Generally, the plate stacker provides a means to allow a user to interface with an automated system. The rack portion of the stacker allows the user to load and unload microwell plates into the system in batches by loading or unloading multiple individual plates into or out of the rack. The base portion allows the automated system to load and unload individual microwell plates from the stacker.

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.

A mechanism for positionally restraining a microplate is disclosed. The mechanism is defined by a base having at least one surface with a receptacle for the insertion of a microplate into the base. Supports and/or positioning structures on a surface of the base have point contacts to restrain movement of the microplate in a stable position for repeatable optical detection measurements. The supports and/or positioning structures permit insertion of the microplate for an initial measurement, removal of the microplate for analytical manipulation, and re-insertion of the microplate to an exact position so as to allow analysis of precise comparative measurements by an optical reader.

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 and at least one pressure nodule extending from the second surface. An output layer can comprise a plurality of staging capillaries each having an inlet and an outlet. The output layer can further comprise a capillary plane disposed above the plurality of staging capillaries in fluid communication with the assay input port. The capillary plane can be sized to draw the assay from the assay input port to generally flood fill the plurality of staging capillaries.

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.