Cartridge loader and methods

• US 6,604,902 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carlson, Andrew B., Norris, Michael C., Lobban, Peter, Besemer, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Lillis, Eileen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fox, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US10/180,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20020164235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 414/180, 414/222.07, 414/331-1-3, 414/937, 414/941, 414/331.05, 414/331.15, 414/806
• US Class Current: 414/331.05
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00608 DNA chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00691 using robots
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00702 Processes involving means for analysing and characterising the products
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00039 Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00148 Test cards, e.g. Biomerieux or McDonnel multiwell test cards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a scanner instrument that is constructed and arranged to scan one or more probe arrays;

a transporter constructed and arranged to transport the probe arrays to the scanner instrument and provide the probe arrays for loading into the scanner instrument; and

a carrier for holding a plurality of probe arrays, wherein the carrier has a first end and an open second end, and a plurality of slots that are configured to receive the probe arrays;

wherein the transporter is configured to transport the probe arrays directly from the carrier and into the scanner instrument.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the probe array is disposed on a substrate, and wherein the substrate is coupled to a housing.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising a carrier that is adapted to hold a plurality of housings that each have a substrate and at least one of the probe arrays.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the carrier is configured to hold each housing in a generally vertical orientation.

5. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the carrier is configured to hold each housing spaced apart from each other.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the carrier is mechanically coupled to the scanner instrument.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the carrier is housed within a housing.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the transporter comprises a grasping mechanism.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the grasping mechanism comprises a pair of fingers that are movable toward and away from each other.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the transporter is configured to move the probe arrays in an axial direction from the carrier and into the scanner.

12. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a barcode reader disposed within the scanner.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein each probe array is held on a substrate that includes an associated bar code to uniquely identify the probe array.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a controller to control the transporter.

15. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the probes includes those selected from a group consisting of agonists and antagonists for cell membrane receptors, toxins and venoms, viral epitopes, hormones, hormone receptors, peptides, enzymes, enzyme substrates, cofactors, drugs, lectins, sugars, oligonucleotides or nucleic acids, oligosaccharides, proteins, and monoclonal antibodies.

11. An apparatus as in clam 1, wherein the transporter is configured to advance the carrier each time a new one of the probe arrays is transported.

16. A method for transporting probe arrays, the method comprising:

providing a scanner;

transporting one or more probe arrays using a transporter to the scanner for loading into the scanner; and

removing the probe array from the scanner, returning the probe array to a carrier and placing another probe array into the scanner using the transporter.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein the probe array is disposed on a substrate which is coupled to a housing, and further comprising transporting the housing from the carrier to the scanner.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the housing is held in a generally vertical orientation in the carrier, and moving the housing out of the carrier in a generally vertical orientation.

19. A method as in claim 17, wherein the carrier holds multiple housings in a spaced apart configuration to permit access to each housing by the transporter, and moving the housing out of the carrier while being spaced apart from the other housings.

20. A method as in claim 17, where in the carrier has a bottom end and an open top end, and a plurality of slots that are configured to receive multiple housings, and further comprising transporting the probe arrays in an axial direction from the carrier and into the scanner.

21. A method as in claim 17, further comprising moving the substrate directly from the carrier and into the scanner.

22. A method as in claim 16, further comprising advancing the carrier to align the next probe array with the transporter.

23. A method as in claim 16, further comprising reading a barcode label associated with the probe array to identify the probe array.

24. A method for transporting probe arrays, the method comprising:

providing a scanner;

providing one or more probe arrays that are disposed on a substrate that is coupled to a housing; and

transporting the housing using a transporter to the scanner for loading into the scanner, removing the housing from the scanner, returning the housing to a carrier and placing another housing into the scanner using the transporter.

25. 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 from the carrier to the scanner;

wherein the transporter is configured to transport the probe arrays directly from the carrier and into the scanner.

26. A system as in claim 25, further comprising a barcode reader disposed to read a barcode associated with at least one probe.

27. A system as in claim 25, wherein the grasping mechanism comprises a pair of fingers that are movable toward and away from each other.

28. A system as in claim 27, wherein the barcode reader is disposed within the scanner.

29. A system as in claim 27, wherein at least one substrate is associated with a bar code to uniquely identify one or more probe arrays disposed on the substrate.

30. A system as in claim 29, wherein the barcode is disposed on a housing that houses the substrate.

31. A system as in claim 27, wherein the bar code is disposed on the substrate.

32. A system as in claim 25, further comprising a controller to control the transporter.

33. 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;

a transporter configured and arranged to transport the probe arrays from the carrier to the scanner; and

a barcode reader disposed to read a barcode associated with at least one probe, wherein the barcode reader is disposed within the scanner.

34. 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;

a transporter configured and arranged to transport the probe arrays from the carrier to the scanner; and

a barcode reader disposed to read a barcode associated with at least one probe, wherein each substrate is associated with a bar code to uniquely identify one or more probe arrays disposed on the substrate.

35. A system as in claim 34, wherein the bar code is disposed on the substrate.

36. A system as in claim 34, wherein the barcode is disposed on a housing that houses the substrate.

37. An apparatus, comprising:

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.

38. An apparatus as in claim 37, wherein the carrier is configured and arranged to advance to provide a second probe array for transportation to the scanner after a first probe array has been transported from the carrier to the scanner and returned from the scanner to the carrier.

39. An apparatus as in claim 38, further comprising a barcode reader disposed to read a barcode associated with at least one probe array.

40. An apparatus, comprising:

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;

a transporter configured and arranged to transport the probe arrays from the carrier to the scanner; and

a barcode reader disposed to read a barcode associated with at least one probe, wherein the barcode reader is disposed within the scanner.

41. An apparatus, comprising:

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;

a transporter configured and arranged to transport the probe arrays from the carrier to the scanner; and

wherein each substrate is associated with a bar code to uniquely identify one or more probe arrays disposed on the substrate.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

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;

a transporter configured and arranged to transport the probe arrays from the carrier to the scanner; and

wherein the bar code is disposed on the substrate.

43. An apparatus, comprising:

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;

a transporter configured and arranged to transport the probe arrays from the carrier to the scanner; and

wherein the barcode is disposed on a housing that houses the substrate.

44. A method for transporting probe arrays, the method comprising:

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 by moving the housing having the probe array directly from the carrier and into the scanner.

45. An apparatus, comprising:

a scanner instrument constructed and arranged to scan one or more probe arrays;

a transporter constructed and arranged to transport the probe arrays to the scanner instrument and provide the probe arrays for loading into the scanner instrument; and

a carrier for holding a plurality of probe arrays, wherein the carrier is mechanically coupled to the scanner instrument.