Integrated sample-processing system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for stacking and unstacking a plurality of sample holders, comprising:
- a first stacking station designed to hold a plurality of sample holders in a first stack; and
a singulation mechanism capable of automatically adding and subtracting sample holders to and from the first stack, the singulation mechanism including at least one latch and an electromagnet mounted near the latch, wherein the latch is biased into the first stack when the electromagnet is off, and wherein the electromagnet attracts the latch out of the first stack when the electromagnet is on.
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Abstract
The invention provides an integrated sample-processing system and components thereof for preparing and/or analyzing samples. The components may include a transport module, a fluidics module, and an analysis module, among others.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for stacking and unstacking a plurality of sample holders, comprising:
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a first stacking station designed to hold a plurality of sample holders in a first stack; and
a singulation mechanism capable of automatically adding and subtracting sample holders to and from the first stack, the singulation mechanism including at least one latch and an electromagnet mounted near the latch, wherein the latch is biased into the first stack when the electromagnet is off, and wherein the electromagnet attracts the latch out of the first stack when the electromagnet is on. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for stacking and unstacking a plurality of sample holders, comprising:
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a first stacking station designed to hold a plurality of sample holders in a first stack; and
a singulation mechanism capable of automatically adding and subtracting sample holders to and from the first stack;
wherein the singulation mechanism adds a sample holder to the first stack passively, and releases a sample holder from the first stack by operating an electromagnetic switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for processing assays, comprising:
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first and second stacking stations, each stacking station configured to hold a stack of microplates, wherein at least one of the stacking stations has a bidirectional capability to release microplates from the bottom of the stack by operating an electromagnetic switch and to receive microplates at the bottom of the stack passively;
a fluid dispensing station having an array of dispense tips for depositing fluid aliquots into wells of a microplate; and
a microplate shuttle device that carries microplates between stations. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An integrated apparatus for processing a plurality of sample holders, comprising:
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an analyzer having an examination site;
an input site for receiving a sample holder;
a shuttle device for carrying a sample holder in two directions along a processing path between the input site and the examination site; and
at least one stacking unit along the processing path including a singulation mechanism capable of receiving microplates from the processing path passively and releasing the microplates to the processing path by operating an electromagnetic switch. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification