Wellplate Handler Robotic Arm for Flow Cytometer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wellplate handlers are slow, require a large surface area, and struggle to sense and adjust to bent probes, posing a risk to data integrity during automated sampling.

Innovation Solution

A plate handler system incorporating a vertical actuation system, horizontal linkage system, and drive system, featuring a positioning bumper and bumpers to accurately position a wellplate and drawtube, allowing for precise 2D manipulation and adjustment to accommodate various sample trays and probe orientations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If lead screws, ball screws, or rack and pinions systems are used for wellplate manipulation, then the system can provide 2D linear movement along X and Y axes, but the system becomes slow and requires a large dedicated surface area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling speedVSAvoidsurface area

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional lead screws, ball screws, or rack and pinions mechanical systems with a robotic arm system that uses motors and linkages to achieve wellplate manipulation. This substitution enables faster sampling speeds while reducing the dedicated surface area required, as the robotic arm can move more quickly and requires less linear travel space compared to traditional screw-based mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional wellplate handlers are used, then the system can maneuver the wellplate linearly, but the system is unable to sense and adjust to a bent probe

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidadjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates sensors that detect the position and orientation of the probe relative to the wellplate. When a bent probe is detected, the system uses this feedback information to adjust the wellplate position or orientation accordingly, maintaining data integrity despite the probe deformation. This closed-loop control enables the system to adapt to bent probes while ensuring reliable sampling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If a robotic arm system is implemented, then the system achieves faster sampling and reduced surface area, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the robotic arm system with multi-functional capabilities, where a single integrated mechanism performs multiple functions including wellplate positioning, probe orientation adjustment, and collision detection. This universal approach increases productivity while managing system complexity by consolidating functions into a unified robotic platform rather than requiring separate dedicated mechanisms for each task.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2310129B1Wellplate handler system for a flow cytometer

Publication Date: 2021.01.27 ACCURI CYTOMETERS INC

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AI summary

A plate handling system for a sampling device with a drawtube that includes a vertical actuation system that adjusts the vertical distance between the drawtube and a sample tray, a horizontal linkage system that positions a sample tray in a horizontal plane, and a drive system that drives the rotational motion of the horizontal linkage system. The horizontal linkage system includes a base arm that rotates about a base joint, and a sample arm that rotates about a sample arm joint on the base arm.