Cartridge loader and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- one or more probe arrays that are disposed on one or more substrates;
one or more housings configured and arranged to house the probe arrays;
a carrier configured and arranged to hold the housings such that the substrates are disposed in a generally vertical orientation;
a scanner configured and arranged to scan one or more of the probe arrays; and
a transporter configured and arranged to transport the probe arrays directly from the carrier to the scanner;
wherein the carrier is configured and arranged to advance between transportation of first and second probe arrays from the carrier to the scanner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for transporting cartridges comprises a housing for holding a plurality of cartridges in a temperature controlled environment. A transport system is also provided and has a grasping mechanism for grasping one of the cartridges. The transport system is further used to remove the cartridge from the housing and to place the cartridge into a scanner.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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one or more probe arrays that are disposed on one or more substrates;
one or more housings configured and arranged to house the probe arrays;
a carrier configured and arranged to hold the housings such that the substrates are disposed in a generally vertical orientation;
a scanner configured and arranged to scan one or more of the probe arrays; and
a transporter configured and arranged to transport the probe arrays directly from the carrier to the scanner;
wherein the carrier is configured and arranged to advance between transportation of first and second probe arrays from the carrier to the scanner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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a carrier that is configured and arranged to hold a plurality of housings, wherein each housing is configured and arranged to include one or more substrates and one or more probe arrays that are disposed on the substrates, and wherein the carrier is further configured and arranged to hold each of the substrates in a generally vertical orientation;
a scanner that is configured and arranged to scan one or more of the probe arrays; and
a transporter configured and arranged to transport the probe arrays directly from the carrier to the scanner;
wherein the carrier is configured and arranged to advance between transportation of first and second probe arrays from the carrier to the scanner. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for transporting probe arrays, the method comprising:
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providing a scanner;
providing a carrier that holds a plurality of housings, wherein each housing includes one or more substrates and one or more probe arrays that are disposed on the substrates, and wherein the carrier holds each of the substrates in a generally vertical orientation;
transporting one or more of the housings having the probe arrays using a transporter to the scanner for loading into the scanner; and
removing the housing having the probe array from the scanner, returning the housing having the probe array to the carrier and moving another housing having another probe array into the scanner using the transporter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification