Abstract:
An analyzer system for automatic column chromatography includes chromatographic columns which are mounted in a rack. A drop removal mechanism system shakes the rack to transfer the last drop of eluate from the tip of a chromatographic column to a receptacle below the tip before the column is repositioned over another receptacle and another fluid or operation is introduced into the column. This prevents one eluate from contaminating another. The chromatographic column may have an upper end which is sealed by a foil member. During use, the foil member is ruptured by lowering a pressure cylinder with a seal-punching head against it. The pressure cylinder, which is part of the pressure tip unit, is then withdrawn so that fluid can be introduced into the column via the ruptured foil member. The pressure tip unit is then lowered into sealing engagement with the column so that pressure can be applied via a bore in the pressure cylinder. The column may also have a tip portion which is originally sealed by a removable cap. The rack has a plate with aperture that is configured to receive the tip portion of the column and to provide a bearing surface for a decapper member which removes the cap. This decapper member is lowered through the aperture, and the bearing surface forces it toward the tip portion so that the cap can be pushed off. After the chromatographic columns have been used, they can be regenerated for re-use without removing them from the rack.
Abstract:
A method of forming a permselective layer on preselected areas of a substantially planar sensing device is disclosed. The claimed method includes establishing and confining a liquid film, derived from a silane compound mixed in a suitable solvent, within a predetermined area of the sensing device. The process relates to photolithographic imaging and developing methods coupled to a film-curing step that provides a patterned permselective layer having the desired semipermeable characteristics.
Abstract:
There is disclosed micro-processor controlled bio-fluid assay apparatus wherein microtitre plates are on carriers having machine readable labels and wherein the samples of bio-fluid and reagent dispensers also preferably carry machine readable labels whereby the micro-processors which controls movement of the plates through the apparatus can verify correct operation thereof. Movement of the plates is effected by a plate carrier transfer mechanism which has the ability to move the plate carriers in any order and in either direction along each of the x,y and z axes.
Abstract:
A plurality of uniform microfabricated sensing devices are produced by establishing a plurality of base sensors on a substrate wafer, forming over at least a portion of each base sensor a permselective layer, superimposing a photoformable proteinaceous photoresist layer over a substantial portion of the permselective layer, and forming a topmost layer of an immobilized ligand receptor. The ligand receptor and corresponding ligand may be immunoreactive species.
Abstract:
The invention concerns an immunological assay system, wherein the inner face of the cuvettes is used as the solid phase. The equipment includes a displaceable carriage (8) for the cuvette set as well as, above the carriage, a dosage head (9), to which the liquid dosimeter (11) and the measurement device (19) are attached. All the operations take place automatically.
Abstract:
There is disclosed an analyzer comprising a dispensing station and detecting means for detecting either a colorimetric or a potentiometric change in a test element. A pipette support is provided to assist in the liquid dispensing, such support being movably connected to the analyzer to permit the pipette support to be moved from an inoperative position to an operative position, and back.
Abstract:
A system for automatically dispensing stock solutions is disclosed, comprising a dispenser, pipette keeping and washing units and a control unit. The respective pipette keeping and washing units have different types of pipettes. First, the control unit selects the most appropriate pipette according to the type and amount of mixture of stock solutions to be prepared. The dispenser then receives the selected pipette from the corresponding pipette keeping and washing unit and is detachably fitted with the appropriate pipette to feed a predetermined amount of stock solution into a receptacle by manipulating the pipette. Having finished dispensing, the dispenser transfers the used pipette back to the corresponding pipette keeping and washing unit. On completion of the transfer, the control unit causes the pipette keeping and washing unit to wash the transferred pipette. In the meanwhile, the control unit selects another pipette and the dispenser dispenses stock solution in the receptacles by using the newly selected pipette. Thus, the processing of dispensing stock solutions to the receptacles can be efficiently effected by saving the time loss which would be caused by interruptions for cleaning the pipette.Further a secondary feature of the invention includes an apparatus for automatically preparing stock solutions thereby saving the time and labor which would be required in manually preparing stock solutions.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprising a delivering device including a probe and operative to suck at least one kind of liquids such as a plurality of reagents, samples or the like from respective vessels into the probe and deliver the liquid thus sucked from the probe into a reaction vessel. In such kind of delivering apparatus, provision is made of the improvement in which the probe is movable along a given moving path, the vessels containing the liquids to be delivered being provided with suction openings arranged at a plurality of fixed positions along the moving path of the probe, and in which the reaction vessel is movable along a path adjacent to and crossed with the moving path of the probe, and in which provision is made of means for locating the probe at any sucking position or at a delivering position with respect to the reaction vessel where the moving path of the probe is adjacent to or crossed with the moving path of the reaction vessel.
Abstract:
A metering head for a metering machine having a carrier having parallel attachments for picking up pipette tips wherein each attachment has a tube having a supporting protrusion at the bottom end at least one sleeve which surrounds the tube and can be axially shifted on the tube, and at least one elastomer O-ring which surrounds the tube a pressure plate above the sleeves having a plurality of first holes through which the tubes extend, wherein the pressure plate can be shifted along the tubes from a release position into a clamping position where the sleeves are pressed, at the bottom ends, against the adjacent O-rings, and the O-rings are expanded to clamp pipette tips; and a first shifting apparatus connected to the pressure plate moving the pressure plate between the release position and clamping position.
Abstract:
Techniques are described for automated microinjection of substances, such as genetic material, into single cells in tissue samples. An example system comprises a robotic manipulator apparatus configured to hold and position a micropipette. Furthermore, the system comprises a microscope camera positioned to observe an injection site. A computing device receives image data from a microscope camera of the system, where the image data represents an image of a tissue sample. The computing device receives, via a user interface, an indication of a line traced by a user on the image of a tissue sample. In response, the computing device controls the robotic manipulator apparatus to move a tip of the micropipette along a path defined by the trajectory line. The pressure controller injects a gas into the micropipette to eject a substance out of the micropipette at one or more points along the path defined by the trajectory line.