Automated seal applicator

• US 20060011305A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Harding, Ian A., Fawcett, Adrian, Carrillo, Albert L., Sandell, Donald, Lim, Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/086,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20060011305A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/542
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/021 Adjust spacings in an array of wells, pipettes or holders, format transfer between arrays of different size or geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1805 Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/50 : Clamping means, tongs in general F16B2/06
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 : for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2038/047 : Perforating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 33/00 : Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 : Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00366 : Several different temperatures used
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 : manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 : Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/553 : and using surface plasmons fluorescence excitation G01N21/648; enhanced Raman G01N21/658
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 : Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 : having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/171 : Means serially presenting discrete base articles or separate portions of a single article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1744 : Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship

Abstract

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 removable sealing cover cassette containing a sealing cover roll. The sealing cover roll can comprise an elongated carrier liner and a plurality of individual sealing covers releasably carried on the elongated carrier liner. The sealing cover cassette can be selectively engagable with the housing. A sealing cover drive system can engage the sealing cover roll and maintain a predetermined alignment of each of the plurality of individual sealing covers relative to the microplate.

Claims

1. An automated seal applicator for applying a sealing cover to a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells for receiving an assay, said automated seal applicator comprising:

a housing;

a sealing cover cassette containing a sealing cover roll, said sealing cover roll comprising an elongated carrier liner and a plurality of individual sealing covers releasably carried on said elongated carrier liner;

a sealing cover drive system engaging said sealing cover roll and maintaining a predetermined alignment of each of said plurality of individual sealing covers relative to the microplate; and

a heating system for heating each of said plurality of individual sealing covers.

2. The automated seal applicator according to claim 1 wherein said sealing cover roll comprises a plurality of drive features and said sealing cover drive system comprises:

a drive member engaging at least one of said plurality of drive features of said sealing cover roll.

3. The automated seal applicator according to claim 1 wherein said sealing cover roll comprises a plurality of staging features formed in said elongated carrier liner, one or more of said plurality of staging features being associated with one or more of the plurality of individual sealing covers, and said sealing cover drive system comprises:

a sealing cover position sensor operably to detect at least one of said plurality of staging features to align one of the plurality of individual sealing covers relative to the microplate.

4. The automated seal applicator according to claim 1 wherein said heating system comprises:

a heated roller member engaging each of said plurality of individual sealing covers.

5. The automated seal applicator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tray assembly having a recessed portion sized to receive the microplate.

6. The automated seal applicator according to claim 5, further comprising:

a tray drive system operably coupled to said tray assembly to move said tray assembly between an extended position and a retracted position.

7. The automated seal applicator according to claim 6, further comprising:

a control system operably coupled with at least one of said sealing cover drive system, said heating system, and said tray drive system to control an operation thereof, said control system operable to output a signal to a status indicia.

8. The automated seal applicator according to claim 7 wherein said status indicia comprises a TEMP alert indicia, a SEAL EMPTY alert indicia, a TRAY JAM alert indicia, a SEAL JAM alert indicia, a POWER alert indicia, a READY alert indicia, or any combination thereof.

9. The automated seal applicator according to claim 1 wherein said sealing cover cassette is removably coupled to said housing.

10. The automated seal applicator according to claim 9 wherein said sealing cover cassette is removably coupled to said housing through a snap fit connection.

11. An automated seal applicator for applying a sealing cover to a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells for receiving an assay, said automated seal applicator comprising:

a housing;

a removable sealing cover cassette containing a sealing cover roll, said sealing cover roll comprising an elongated carrier liner and a plurality of individual sealing covers releasably carried on said elongated carrier liner, said sealing cover cassette being selectively engagable with said housing; and

a sealing cover drive system engaging said sealing cover roll and maintaining a predetermined alignment of each of said plurality of individual sealing covers relative to the microplate.

12. The automated seal applicator according to claim 11, further comprising:

a heating system for heating each of said plurality of individual sealing covers.

13. The automated seal applicator according to claim 11 wherein said sealing cover roll comprises a plurality of drive features and said sealing cover drive system comprises:

a drive member engaging at least one of said plurality of drive features of said sealing cover roll.

14. The automated seal applicator according to claim 11 wherein said sealing cover roll comprises a plurality of staging features formed in said elongated carrier liner, one or more of said plurality of staging features being associated with one or more of the plurality of individual sealing covers, and said sealing cover drive system comprises:

a sealing cover position sensor operably to detect at least one of said plurality of staging features to align one of the plurality of individual sealing covers relative to the microplate.

15. The automated seal applicator according to claim 11 wherein said heating system comprises:

a heated roller member engaging each of said plurality of individual sealing covers.

16. The automated seal applicator according to claim 11, further comprising:

a tray assembly having a recessed portion sized to receive the microplate.

17. The automated seal applicator according to claim 16, further comprising:

a tray drive system operably coupled to said tray assembly to move said tray assembly between an extended position and a retracted position.

18. The automated seal applicator according to claim 17, further comprising:

a control system operably coupled with at least one of said sealing cover drive system, said heating system, and said tray drive system to control an operation thereof, said control system operable to output a signal to a status indicia.

19. The automated seal applicator according to claim 18 wherein said status indicia comprises a TEMP alert indicia, a SEAL EMPTY alert indicia, a TRAY JAM alert indicia, a SEAL JAM alert indicia, a POWER alert indicia, a READY alert indicia, or any combination thereof.

20. The automated seal applicator according to claim 11 wherein said sealing cover cassette is removably coupled to said housing.