Apparatus and method for picking biological sample
First Claim
1. A method of transferring a sample from at least one selected microwell of a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells to a predetermined location in a destination sample holder using a picking instrument comprising a picking pin having a distal tip, the picking pin having three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions, the x, y directions constituting an x-y plane, the method comprising:
- calibrating the position of the microfabricated chip relative to the position of the picking pin;
determining the coordinates of the at least one selected microwell of the microfabricated chip for picking on the x-y plane relative to the position of the picking pin based on the calibration;
based on a current position of picking pin and the determined coordinates of the at least one selected microwell, moving the picking pin to a position above the location of the at least one selected microwell;
dipping at least a portion of the distal tip of the picking pin into the at least one selected microwell to pick up a sample contained in the at least one selected microwell; and
moving the picking pin and transferring the sample to a predetermined location in the destination sample holder.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A picking instrument for picking biological samples, such as microbial samples, includes a picking pin having a distal tip and three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions. The picking instrument also includes a loading platform comprising a first area and a second area, the first area configured to accommodate and secure a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells. The picking pin is programmatically controlled to pick a sample contained in one or more selected microwells of the microfabricated chip and then transfer the sample to a predetermined location at the destination sample holder. Methods of operating the picking instrument, including calibrating the coordinates of the selected microwell(s) relative to a location of the picking pin, are also provided.
10 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of transferring a sample from at least one selected microwell of a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells to a predetermined location in a destination sample holder using a picking instrument comprising a picking pin having a distal tip, the picking pin having three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions, the x, y directions constituting an x-y plane, the method comprising:
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calibrating the position of the microfabricated chip relative to the position of the picking pin; determining the coordinates of the at least one selected microwell of the microfabricated chip for picking on the x-y plane relative to the position of the picking pin based on the calibration; based on a current position of picking pin and the determined coordinates of the at least one selected microwell, moving the picking pin to a position above the location of the at least one selected microwell; dipping at least a portion of the distal tip of the picking pin into the at least one selected microwell to pick up a sample contained in the at least one selected microwell; and moving the picking pin and transferring the sample to a predetermined location in the destination sample holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a picking instrument, comprising:
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providing a picking instrument comprising; a picking pin having a distal tip and three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions, the x, y directions constituting an x-y plane; a loading platform comprising a first area and a second area, the first area configured to accommodate and secure a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells, and the second area configured to accommodate and secure a destination sample holder; wherein the picking pin is operably connected to a computer, the computer including a computer program product that enables the determination of the coordinates of at least one selected microwell of the microfabricated chip on the x-y plane relative to a position of the picking pin based on a calibration of the position of the microfabricated chip relative to a position of the picking pin; wherein the first area of the loading platform is loaded with a first microfabricated chip having a top surface defining a plurality of microwells, and wherein the second area of the loading platform is loaded with a destination sample holder; calibrating the position of the first microfabricated chip relative to a position of the picking pin; determine the coordinates of the at least one selected microwell of the first microfabricated chip on the x-y plane relative to the position of the picking pin based on the calibration; based on the determined coordinates of the at least one selected microwell of the first microfabricated chip, moving the picking pin to a position above the location of the at least one selected microwell of the first microfabricated chip; dipping at least a portion of the distal tip of the picking pin into the at least one selected microwell of the first microfabricated chip to pick up a sample contained in the at least one selected microwell of the first microfabricated chip; and moving the picking pin and transferring the sample to a predetermined location in the destination sample holder. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification