公开(公告)号：US20190299212A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-03

申请号：US16443448

申请日：2019-06-17

Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG

Inventor： MARC N. FEIGLIN

IPC: B01L3/00 ,  G01N27/447 ,  B01L3/02 ,  B01F13/00 ,  G01N27/453 ,  C12Q1/686 ,  B01L7/00

Abstract: A cartridge has a container with at least one well, protrusions distributed on the container base side, and a flat polymer film having a lower surface and a hydrophobic upper surface kept at a distance (d) to the container base side by the protrusions. The container and the film are reversibly attachable to a liquid droplet manipulation instrument so that the lower surface of the film abuts at least one electrode array of the instrument. The container enables displacement of at least one liquid droplet from a well onto the hydrophobic upper surface of the flat polymer film and above the electrode array. The liquid droplet manipulation instrument has a control unit with a voltage control and an electrode selector for individually selecting each electrode of the electrode array and for providing the selected electrode with a voltage.

公开(公告)号：US20190107107A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-11

申请号：US16089403

申请日：2017-03-27

Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG

Inventor： Khaled ABOU-SALEH

IPC: F04B53/16 ,  F04B53/22 ,  F04B53/10

Abstract: A modular pump housing includes: a pumping chamber, substantially cylindrical about a pumping axis and including an opening for the insertion of a piston and a base opposite the opening; a face suitable for attaching a fluid interface thereto; and a conduit connecting the base with the face. Using a further disclosed process, the diameter of the chamber can be selected during manufacture without changing the external measurements of the body. A solenoid valve can be attached using the fluid interface. If a solenoid valve is not used, an additional conduit is provided through a sidewall of the chamber for connecting the latter with the fluid interface.

公开(公告)号：US20190049708A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-14

申请号：US16041922

申请日：2018-07-23

Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG

Inventor： Andreas ERLBACHER ,  Markus SCHÜRF ,  Josef GRASSL ,  Alexander KASER

IPC: G02B21/00 ,  G02B21/24 ,  G02B21/06 ,  G02B21/36

Abstract: A system 100 and method are provided for imaging a sample in a sample holder. For providing autofocus, a 2D pattern is projected onto the sample holder 050 via an astigmatic optical element 120. Image data 172 of the sample is acquired by an image sensor 140 via magnification optics 150. A difference in sharpness of the two-dimensional pattern in the image data is measured along a first axis and a second axis. Based on the difference, a magnitude and direction of defocus of the camera subsystem is determined with respect to the sample holder. This enables the sample holder, and thereby the sample, to be brought into focus in a fast and reliable manner.

公开(公告)号：US20180311666A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-01

申请号：US16017322

申请日：2018-06-25

Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG

Inventor： MANJEET DHINDSA ,  Khushroo Gandhi

IPC: B01L3/00

CPC classification number: B01L3/502761 ,  B01L3/502792 ,  B01L2200/0668 ,  B01L2300/0816 ,  B01L2300/123 ,  B01L2400/0427 ,  B01L2400/043

Abstract: A cartridge configured to control and manipulate liquids and to be positioned at a cartridge accommodation site of a digital microfluidics system. The digital microfluidics system has a number or array of individual electrodes attached to a first substrate or PCB, a central control unit in operative contact with individual electrodes for controlling selection and for providing a number of individual electrodes that define a path of individual electrodes with voltage for manipulating liquid portions or liquid droplets by electrowetting, and a cartridge accommodation site that is configured for taking up the cartridge.

公开(公告)号：US10065325B2

公开(公告)日：2018-09-04

申请号：US14628872

申请日：2015-02-23

Applicant: Tecan Trading AG

Inventor： Stefan Buchloh ,  Thomas Iten ,  Sara Ferdi ,  Nico Birkner

IPC: B25J15/06 ,  B25J15/00 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/10

Abstract: A transport tool for transporting a laboratory article using a pipette of a pipetting system includes at least one plug-in sleeve, which is implemented for the releasable plugging-in of a receptacle cone of a pipette, and which can be plugged onto the receptacle cone of the pipette instead of a disposable pipette tip. In addition, the transport tool comprises an article holder having at least one holding part, which is implemented to form a support connection with a laboratory article. A connecting part connects the article holder to the plug-in sleeve, so that holding axes of the at least one article holder and the sleeve axis of the plug-in sleeve are arranged coaxially or axially-parallel to one another. The laboratory article has at least one flat, at least approximately horizontal surface. The article holder has a holding plate or a holding sleeve.

公开(公告)号：US20180243743A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-30

申请号：US15756176

申请日：2015-09-02

Applicant: Thoms PERROUD ,  Dan TRAN ,  Daniel HOFFMEYER ,  Tiffany LAY ,  Manjeet DHINDSA ,  TECAN TRADING AG

Inventor： THOMAS PERROUD ,  Dan TRAN ,  Daniel HOFFMEYER ,  Tiffany LAY ,  Manjeet DHINDSA

IPC: B01L3/00

CPC classification number: C02F1/484 ,  B01L3/502715 ,  B01L3/50273 ,  B01L3/502761 ,  B01L3/502792 ,  B01L3/508 ,  B01L2200/025 ,  B01L2200/0668 ,  B01L2300/0816 ,  B01L2300/123 ,  B01L2400/0427 ,  B01L2400/043

Abstract: A digital microfluidics system with electrodes attached to a substrate and covered by a hydrophobic surface, and a control unit for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting; providing in close proximity to electrodes a magnetic conduit for directing a magnetic field of a backing magnet to the first hydrophobic surface; providing on the hydrophobic surface a liquid droplet that has magnetically responsive beads; moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with the magnetically responsive beads until a part of which is placed atop of the magnetic conduit; actuating the backing magnet of the magnetic conduit and attracting/concentrating magnetically responsive beads; and while actuating the backing magnet, moving by electrowetting the liquid droplet with decreased number of magnetically responsive beads away from the specific magnetic conduit. Also disclosed are a method for suspending magnetically responsive beads in liquid portions or droplets in digital microfluidics and a disposable cartridge to carry out the methods.

公开(公告)号：US09910004B2

公开(公告)日：2018-03-06

申请号：US15168399

申请日：2016-05-31

Applicant: Tecan Trading AG

Inventor： Markus Schoeni ,  Philipp Ott ,  Lars Kamm ,  Paul Zbinden

IPC: G01R27/08 ,  G01N27/22 ,  G01F23/00 ,  G01F23/26 ,  G01N35/10 ,  G01N1/10

CPC classification number: G01N27/22 ,  G01F23/0069 ,  G01F23/265 ,  G01F23/266 ,  G01N1/10 ,  G01N35/1011 ,  G01N2035/1018

Abstract: A capacitively operating apparatus (100) has a container, a probe (3) movable into and/or out of the container, an input signal generator connectable to the probe (3) to provide an input signal (sin(t)) which produces at least one output signal (sout(t) in the probe (3), and a measuring apparatus (M) connectable to the probe (3) to tap the output signal (sout(t)) from the probe (3), and wherein the probe (3) is periodically chargeable and dischargeable, the output signal (sout(t)) corresponds to the time progression of a charging/discharging curve which is produced by the periodic charging and discharging of the probe (3). The apparatus (100) also includes a circuit module (10, 11) with two comparators for providing a first comparator output signal (PWM1) and a second comparator output signal (PWM2) from the output signal (sout(t)) and to correlate them with one another.

公开(公告)号：US09377439B2

公开(公告)日：2016-06-28

申请号：US13737656

申请日：2013-01-09

Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG

Inventor： Travis Lee ,  Tiffany Lay ,  Bruce Richardson ,  S. Nicholas Reimitz

IPC: G01N27/447 ,  B01L3/00

CPC classification number: G01N27/44791 ,  B01L3/502715 ,  B01L3/502792 ,  B01L3/505 ,  B01L2200/027 ,  B01L2200/0673 ,  B01L2300/043 ,  B01L2300/044 ,  B01L2300/089 ,  B01L2300/123 ,  B01L2400/0427

Abstract: A disposable cartridge had body, bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, top layer with a second hydrophobic surface, and gap between. The bottom layer is a flexible film sealingly attached at its circumference to the top layer. No spacer is between the layers. The top layer has loading sites for transferring processing liquids into the gap. In use, the bottom layer is a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets and is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system having base unit with cartridge accommodation site and electrode array at the site. The electrode array is supported by a bottom substrate that extends in a first plane and has individual electrodes. The system also includes a central control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.

Abstract translation: 一次性药筒具有主体，底层具有第一疏水性表面，顶层具有第二疏水性表面，并且之间具有间隙。 底层是在其周围密封地附接到顶层的柔性膜。 层之间没有间隔物。 顶层具有用于将处理液体转移到间隙中的装载位置。 在使用中，底层是用于操作液滴中的样品的工作薄膜，并且放置在具有基座单元的数字微流体系统的电极阵列上，该基座具有筒位置和位置处的电极阵列。 电极阵列由在第一平面中延伸并具有单独电极的底部基底支撑。 该系统还包括一个中央控制单元，用于控制电极的选择，并为这些电极提供单独的电压脉冲，用于通过电润湿来操纵间隙内的液滴。

公开(公告)号：US09278452B2

公开(公告)日：2016-03-08

申请号：US14638668

申请日：2015-03-04

Applicant: Tecan Trading AG

Inventor： Joel Brandenberger

IPC: G05B19/18 ,  B25J9/16 ,  B25J9/00 ,  G05B19/4061 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/10 ,  G01N35/04

CPC classification number: B25J9/1676 ,  B25J9/0087 ,  B25J9/026 ,  B25J9/1666 ,  G01N35/0099 ,  G01N35/10 ,  G01N2035/0491 ,  G05B19/4061 ,  G05B2219/39083 ,  G05B2219/40497 ,  Y10S901/14 ,  Y10S901/49

Abstract: An Automated handling system has a working area, at least one object in the working area, at least a first numerically controlled arm and at least a second numerically controlled arm. The arms are movable above the working area and have a collision avoidance mechanism. The current actual topography of the working area is determinable, a movement planning algorithm determines a path from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first application of the movement planning algorithm a reference path, a quasi-static collision examination for the path, which has been provided by the movement planning algorithm, is applicable, a dynamic collision examination for the path, which has been suggested by the movement planning algorithm, is applicable, and wherein the collision examination determine whether, when moving the first arm a collision would be provoked.

Abstract translation: 自动处理系统具有工作区域，工作区域中的至少一个对象，至少第一数字控制臂和至少第二数字控制臂。 臂可移动到工作区域上方并具有防撞机制。 运动规划算法确定从第一位置到第二位置的路径，其中在运动规划算法的第一应用中参考路径，路径的准静态碰撞检查 可以应用运动规划算法提供的运动规划算法所提出的路径的动态碰撞检测，其中碰撞检查确定当移动第一臂时是否发生碰撞 会被挑起

公开(公告)号：US20150292933A1

公开(公告)日：2015-10-15

申请号：US14683863

申请日：2015-04-10

Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG

Inventor： Markus WIGGLI ,  Nicolas CORS

IPC: G01F23/26

CPC classification number: G01F23/263 ,  G01F23/265 ,  G01F23/268 ,  G01F25/0061 ,  G01N2035/1025 ,  G01N2035/103

Abstract: A device (100) which comprises a deliverable sensor (202), a container (101) for receiving a liquid (1), a container environment (103) and a signal processing circuit (2), the input side (11) of which can be connected circuitry-wise to the sensor (102). The device (100) is designed to perform a capacitive liquid level measurement in normal operation using the sensor (102), wherein a threshold value can be predefined for the signal processing circuit (2) for normal operation, the device (100) comprises a classification module (104), i. which can be connected with an input side or line connection (105) circuitry-wise to the sensor (102), ii. which is designed to make a capacitive measurement of the liquid (1) in the container (101) using the sensor (102), and iii. which can be connected circuitry-wise (106) to the signal processing circuit (2) in order to trigger the specification of a threshold value using the sensor (102) for capacitive measurement of the liquid (1).

Abstract translation: 一种装置（100），包括可输送传感器（202），用于接收液体（1）的容器（101），容器环境（103）和信号处理电路（2），其输入侧 可以以电路方式连接到传感器（102）。 设备（100）被设计成使用传感器（102）在正常操作中执行电容性液位测量，其中可以为信号处理电路（2）预定义用于正常操作的阈值，所述设备（100）包括 分类模块（104），即 其可以与输入侧或线路连接（105）以电路方式连接到传感器（102），ii。 其被设计成使用传感器（102）对容器（101）中的液体（1）进行电容测量，以及iii。 其可以以电路方式（106）连接到信号处理电路（2），以便使用用于液体（1）的电容测量的传感器（102）触发阈值的指定。