Apparatus and method for transferring samples from a source to a target
First Claim
1. A control system for transferring a sample from a source vessel to a target vessel, the control system comprising:
- a vessel unit including a support plate for supporting the source vessel and the target vessel thereon;
a primary transfer unit including at least one transfer device for transferring the sample from the source vessel to the target vessel, said primary transfer unit including a primary magnet unit and said transfer device uses a magnetic force to attract the sample thereto, and wherein said transfer device further includes a hollow pin body terminating at a tip and a magnet slidably disposed within said hollow pin body, and said primary magnet unit further comprises a magnet actuator system for driving said magnet to move from a first position adjacent said tip, wherein said magnet applies said magnetic force through said tip, to a second position away from said tip, wherein said magnetic force is removed from said tip;
an x-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in an x-direction;
a y-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a y-direction;
a z-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a z-direction, said x, y and z directions defining a three axis Cartesian coordinate system; and
a control unit for controlling said x, y and z drives,wherein said magnet actuator system comprises;
an actuator plate having at least one individually activated electromagnet disposed thereon;
an actuator plate drive for reciprocally translating said actuator plate; and
an actuator rod having a distal end connected to said magnet in said hollow pin body, said actuator rod including a ferromagnetic piston portion engageable with said electromagnet when said electromagnetic is activated for moving said magnet from said first position to said second position upon translation of said actuator plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for transferring a sample from a source vessel to a target vessel generally includes a vessel unit, a primary transfer unit, an x-drive, a y-drive, a z-drive and a control unit for controlling the drives. The vessel unit includes a support plate for supporting the source vessel and the target vessel thereon and the transfer unit includes at least one transfer device for transferring the sample from the source vessel to the target vessel. The x-, y- and z-drives reciprocally translate one of the support plate and the transfer device in a respective x-direction, y-direction and z-direction, wherein the x, y and z directions define a three axis Cartesian coordinate system.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A control system for transferring a sample from a source vessel to a target vessel, the control system comprising:
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a vessel unit including a support plate for supporting the source vessel and the target vessel thereon; a primary transfer unit including at least one transfer device for transferring the sample from the source vessel to the target vessel, said primary transfer unit including a primary magnet unit and said transfer device uses a magnetic force to attract the sample thereto, and wherein said transfer device further includes a hollow pin body terminating at a tip and a magnet slidably disposed within said hollow pin body, and said primary magnet unit further comprises a magnet actuator system for driving said magnet to move from a first position adjacent said tip, wherein said magnet applies said magnetic force through said tip, to a second position away from said tip, wherein said magnetic force is removed from said tip; an x-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in an x-direction; a y-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a y-direction; a z-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a z-direction, said x, y and z directions defining a three axis Cartesian coordinate system; and a control unit for controlling said x, y and z drives, wherein said magnet actuator system comprises; an actuator plate having at least one individually activated electromagnet disposed thereon; an actuator plate drive for reciprocally translating said actuator plate; and an actuator rod having a distal end connected to said magnet in said hollow pin body, said actuator rod including a ferromagnetic piston portion engageable with said electromagnet when said electromagnetic is activated for moving said magnet from said first position to said second position upon translation of said actuator plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A control system for transferring a sample from a source vessel to a target vessel, the control system comprising:
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a vessel unit including a support plate for supporting the source vessel and the target vessel thereon; a primary transfer unit including at least one transfer device for transferring the sample from the source vessel to the target vessel, said primary transfer unit including a primary magnet unit and said transfer device uses a magnetic force to attract the sample thereto, and wherein said transfer device further includes a hollow pin body terminating at a tip and a magnet slidably disposed within said hollow pin body, and said primary magnet unit further comprises a magnet actuator system for driving said magnet to move from a first position adjacent said tip, wherein said magnet applies said magnetic force through said tip, to a second position away from said tip, wherein said magnetic force is removed from said tip; an x-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in an x-direction; a y-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a y-direction; a z-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a z-direction, said x, y and z directions defining a three axis Cartesian coordinate system; and a control unit for controlling said x, y and z drives, wherein said magnet actuator system comprises; an actuator rod having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being connected to said magnet in said hollow pin body, wherein said actuator rod comprises a flexible cable; and an individually activated rod drive connected to said proximal end of said actuator rod for moving said magnet from said first position to said second position.
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9. A control system for transferring a sample from a source vessel to a target vessel, the control system comprising:
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a vessel unit including a support plate for supporting the source vessel and the target vessel thereon; a primary transfer unit including at least one transfer device for transferring the sample from the source vessel to the target vessel; an x-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in an x-direction; a y-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a y-direction; a z-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a z-direction, said x, y and z directions defining a three axis Cartesian coordinate system; a control unit for controlling said x, y and z drives; and a magnet unit including at least one magnet element supported on a magnet plate, said support plate of said vessel unit being disposed between said transfer device of said primary transfer unit and said magnet element of said magnet unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A control system for transferring a sample from a source vessel to a target vessel, the control system comprising:
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a vessel unit including a support plate for supporting the source vessel and the target vessel thereon; a primary transfer unit including at least one transfer device for transferring the sample from the source vessel to the target vessel; an x-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in an x-direction; a y-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a y-direction; a z-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a z-direction, said x, y and z directions defining a three axis Cartesian coordinate system; a control unit for controlling said x, y and z drives; and a tip insertion unit for applying a disposable tip to said at least one transfer device of said primary transfer unit, wherein said tip insertion unit comprises; a block having a bore formed therein, said bore having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being sized to receive a disposable tip for application to said transfer device; and a pressure source connected to said distal end of said bore for applying a pressure in said bore for forcing the disposable tip out of said bore. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for transferring a sample from a source vessel to a target vessel, the system comprising:
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a transfer device having a hollow body terminating at a tip and an actuating element movably disposed in said hollow body between a first position adjacent said tip and a second position away from said tip, said movement of said actuating element causing a sample in proximity to said transfer device to be alternately collected and released from said transfer device; an actuator plate having at least one individually activated electromagnet disposed thereon; an actuator plate drive for reciprocally translating said actuator plate; and an actuator rod having a distal end connected to said actuating element in said hollow body of said transfer device, said actuator rod including a ferromagnetic piston portion engageable with said electromagnet when said electromagnetic is activated for moving said actuating element from said first position to said second position upon translation of said actuator plate. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification