Apparatus for the precise location of reaction plates

• US 6,878,341 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applera Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kowallis, Reid Burton, Cox, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US10/010,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20020094578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 422/99, 422/100, 422/102, 422/104, 422/62, 422/63, 422/65, 436/43, 436 47- 48, 436/50, 436/54, 436/180, 435/288.3, 435/288.4, 435/288.7
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 Multiple transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Generally, the present invention provides a device and method for accurately locating a multi-well plate at a plate-support location, e.g., a work surface, of an automated laboratory machine, such that one or more acting members of the machine, such as an array of pipette tips, optical sensors, or the like, can accurately address and operate on the individual wells. Interior and/or exterior surface regions of one or more wells of a multi-well plate are used as the primary plate features engaged by locating structure of the machine. In one particular embodiment one or more upwardly tapered projections extend from a plate-support surface of a plate-handling machine for mating engagement with the exterior surface regions of one or more wells. In another embodiment, the exterior surface regions along one or more well bottoms are engagingly received within bores, or other receiving structure, formed on the place-support surface of a machine. In a further embodiment, one or more downwardly extending projections depend from an acting-member support, along with the acting members of a machine. Introduction of the projections into some of the wells of a multi-well plate serves to align the acting members with the plate'"'"'s other wells.

Claims

1. A microplate apparatus comprising:

a microtiter plate defining an array of sample wells, each having exterior wall surfaces;

a plate-handling machine having a plate-support surface and a sample-handling or reading device which operates on individual wells in said microtiter plate;

a control unit for controlling the position of said device with respect to defined coordinates on said plate-support surface; and

a locator structure comprising at least one projection extending from said plate-support surface, wherein each of said at least one projection engages said exterior wall surfaces of at least one but no more than four adjacent wells, when said microtiter plate is positioned on said plate-support surface, to fix the position of each well at a known location with respect to said defined coordinates,

wherein one or more of said at least one projection and said exterior wall surfaces of one or more wells have complementary shaped regions, with said engaging taking place between said at least one projection and said complementary shaped regions of said wells when said microtiter plate is positioned on said plate-support surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said locator structure comprises two or more projections extending from said plate-support surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of said at least one projection tapers on progressing toward their upper regions and said one or more wells taper on progressing toward their lower regions, with said exterior wall surfaces of said tapered wells defining one or more tapered recesses, each recess adapted to receive one of said at least one projection.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one projection defines a central cavity formed at a distal end of each of said at least one projection, wherein said central cavity extends from said distal end of said projection toward said plate-support surface and opens away from said plate-support surface, said cavity being configured to receive at least a lower region of said exterior wall surfaces of a well.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a biasing assembly operable to urge said exterior wall surfaces and said locator structure together, when said microtiter plate is positioned on the plate-support surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said biasing assembly includes a vacuum source and a flow line communicating said vacuum source with a lower side of said microtiter plate, when said microtiter plate is positioned on said plate-support surface, said vacuum source being operable to draw said microtiter plate against said plate-support surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a movable support, to which said device is attached, said movable support adapted to transport said device toward and away from a position whereat said device can address and operate on individual wells fixed at said known locations.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a positioning assembly adapted for communication with said control unit, and operably connected to said plate-support surface;

said positioning assembly being operable, under direction of said control unit, to move said plate-support surface toward and away from a position whereat said sample-handling or reading device can operate on individual wells fixed at said known locations.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said device includes a plurality of sample-handling or reading members disposed in an array that is alignable with at least a portion of said array of sample wells, with said wells fixed at said known location.

10. A microplate apparatus comprising:

a microtiter plate defining an array of sample wells, each having interior wall surfaces;

a plate-handling machine having a plate-support surface and an acting-member support with one or more sample-handling or reading members disposed therealong, each of said members being adapted to operate on an individual well in said microtiter plate;

a control unit for controlling the position of said acting-member support with respect to defined coordinates on said plate-support surface; and

a locator structure depending from said acting-member support for engaging said interior wall surfaces of one or more wells, when introduced therein, to fix the position of one or more unengaged wells in alignment with said one or more members.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said locator structure and said interior wall surfaces have complementary shaped regions, with said engaging taking place between said complimentary shaped regions when said locator structure is inserted into one or more wells.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said locator structure includes two or more elongate projections disposed in spaced relation along said acting-member support.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said plate-handling machine includes a plurality of sample-handling or reading members;

and further wherein said members and said locator structure collectively define an array that is alignable with at least a portion of said array of sample wells.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a biasing assembly operable to urge said interior wall surfaces and said locator structure together, when said locator structure is inserted into one or more wells.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said biasing assembly presses said acting-member support toward said plate-support surface, with said microtiter plate interposed therebetween.

16. A microplate apparatus comprising:

a microtiter plate defining an array of sample wells, each having exterior wall surfaces;

a plate-handling machine having a plate-support surface and a sample-handling or reading device which operates on individual wells in said microtiter plate;

a control unit for controlling the position of said device with respect to defined coordinates on said plate-support surface;

a locator structure comprising at least one projection extending from said plate-support surface; and

a central cavity formed at a distal end of each of said at least one projection, wherein said central cavity extends from said distal end of said projection toward said plate support surface and opens away from said plate-support surface, said cavity being configured to receive at least a lower region of said exterior wall surfaces of a well, when said microtiter plate is positioned on said plate-support surface, to fix the position of each well at a known location with respect to said defined coordinates.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of said central cavities of said at least one projection and said exterior wall surfaces of one or more wells have complementary shaped regions, with said engaging taking place between said central cavities and said complementary shaped regions of said exterior wall surfaces of said wells when said microtiter plate is positioned on said plate-support surface.