EP0185330A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Multi-sample liquid handling system
Assignee: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Inc
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Filing: 1985-12-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A multi-sample liquid handling system (10) performs multiple assays on each of a plurality of samples. The system includes a table (16) for supporting one or more multi-well trays (18,20,22) and a vertically shiftable head assembly (24) mounted above the table (16) and carrying a row of fixed-position pipettes (60) for dispensing assay liquid simultaneously into a row of wells in a tray. The table (16) is horizontally shiftable, along a path extending in a front-to-back direction, to position a selected row of tray wells below the pipettes (60). Also included in the system (10) is a rotatable sample holder (26) mounted for rotation adjacent one side of the table (16). A sample-transfer pipette (34) mounted on the head assembly (24) is shiftable in a side-to-side direction for transferring successive samples in the holder (26) to each of a group of wells in a row of a tray (18,20,22). The system (10) has an optical sensor (100) for sensing the liquid level in each sample tube (28,30,32) to allow sample withdrawal at predetermined levels within the individual sample tubes (28,30,32).
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Everett Hewett
- 👤 Richard Alan Leath
- 👤 Joseph Thomas Widunas
- 👤 Craig James Tuttle
- 👤 Timothy J. Wennberg
- 👤 Louis Michael Mezei
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N35/1009; G01N2035/1025; G01N2035/1027; G01N2035/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A liquid-handling system having a horizontally shiftable table for supporting a multi-row array of assay wells, means for shifting the table to selected liquid-transfer positions, a vertically shiftable head assembly carrying plural fixed position pipettes for transferring preselected liquid volumes to the wells in a row in such array, and means for shifting the head assembly to selected liquid-handling positions, characterized in that the system contains an apparatus for use 1n performing multiple assays on each of a plurality of samples, characterized by a shiftable sample holder adapted to hold an array of such samples, means for shifting the sample holder to place successive samples held therein at a selected sample-transfer position, a sample-transfer pipette mounted on said head assembly for shifting between such sample transfer position and positions adapted for dispensing the sample successively into one or more of the wells in such an array, means for shifting the sample-transfer pipette between such positions, and controlling means operatively connected to the shifting means for the table, head assembly, sample holder, and sample-transfer pipette, to effect transfer of a selected volume of each said sample to one or more selected wells in the well array, with such supported on the table.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A liquid-handling system having a horizontally shiftable table for supporting a multi-row array of assay wells, means for shifting the table to selected liquid-transfer positions, a vertically shiftable head assembly carrying plural fixed position pipettes for transferring preselected liquid volumes to the wells in a row in such array, and means for shifting the head assembly to selected liquid-handling positions, characterized in that the system contains an apparatus for use 1n performing multiple assays on each of a plurality of samples, characterized by a shiftable sample holder adapted to hold an array of such samples, means for shifting the sample holder to place successive samples held therein at a selected sample-transfer position, a sample-transfer pipette mounted on said head assembly for shifting between such sample transfer position and positions adapted for dispensing the sample successively into one or more of the wells in such an array, means for shifting the sample-transfer pipette between such positions, and controlling means operatively connected to the shifting means for the table, head assembly, sample holder, and sample-transfer pipette, to effect transfer of a selected volume of each said sample to one or more selected wells in the well array, with such supported on the table.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A liquid-handling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sample holder in the apparatus is further adapted to support an array of disposable pipette tips, where each tip is adapted to be attached to the sample-transfer pipette by friction fit, upon downward movement of the head assembly when the pipette and corresponding tip assembly are vertically aligned, and said sample-transfer pipette further includes means adapted to release the attached tip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A liquid-handling system according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the sample holder is a rotatable holder adapted to hold such samples in a circular array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A liquid-handling system according to any one of claims 1-3 for use in performing assays on multiple, variable-volume samples in sample tubes which is further characterized by a sensor means for detecting the level of each sample, wherein said controlling means is operatively connected to the sensor means for controlling the position of said head assembly, during a sample-transfer operation, in response to the sample level detected by the sensor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A liquid-handling system according to any one of claims 1-4 for use in performing assays on blood samples, each composed of an upper fraction and a lower, blood-cell fraction, characterized in that said controlling means includes means for calculating, for each sample, based on the detected level of the sample and on a preselected upper/lower fraction ratio, the head assembly positions which permit sample withdrawal separately from the upper and lower cell fractions of each sample.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
151 words
A liquid-handling system for performing multiple assays on each of a plurality of samples characterized by a table mounted for shifting along a path extending in a generally front-to-back direction, a sample holder mounted for rotation adjacent one side of the table, a head assembly mounted above said table for vertically shifting with respect thereto, a sample-transfer pipette mounted on said assembly for shifting in a generally side-to-side direction between positions directly above the holder and the table, shifting means associated with said table, sample holder, head assembly, and sample-transfer pipette, for shifting each of these to desired positions, and means operatively connected to said shifting-means for controlling the movement of said table, holder, head assembly and pipette to effect transfer of a defined volume of each sample supported in said holder to at least one of a group of side-by-side wells in a row of wells supported on said table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
A liquid-handling system for performing multiple assays on each of a plurality of samples characterized by a table mounted for shifting along a path extending in a generally front-to-back direction, a sample holder mounted for rotation adjacent one side of the table, a head assembly mounted above said table for vertically shifting with respect thereto, a sample-transfer pipette mounted on said assembly for shifting in a generally side-to-side direction between positions directly above the holder and the table, shifting means associated with said table, sample holder, head assembly, and sample-transfer pipette, for shifting each of these to desired positions, and means operatively connected to said shifting-means for controlling the movement of said table, holder, head assembly and pipette to effect transfer of a defined volume of each sample supported in said holder to at least one of a group of side-by-side wells in a row of wells supported on said table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A liquid-handling system according to claim 6 further characterized by a plurality of side-by-side pipettes in said head assembly, each adapted to dispense a given quantity of a selected assay reagent fluid to each of the wells in such a row.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A liquid-handling system according to claim 6 or 7 further characterized in that the sample holder is adapted to hold a circular array of disposable pipette tips, where each tip is adapted to be attached to the sample-transfer pipette by friction fit, upon downward movement of the head assembly when the pipette and corresponding tip assembly are vertically aligned, and said pipette is further characterized by means adapted to release the attached tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
A liquid-handling system adapted to transfer an upper fraction and a lower blood-cell fraction from each of a plurality of blood samp ' les contained in sample tubes at various sample levels, by means of a sample-transfer pipette whose tip is shiftable to a selected level within each sample tube, characterized in that the system has a tip-positioning mechanism characterized by a sensor for detecting the upper liquid level in each sample tube, means for calculating, for each sample, based on the detected level in a sample, and on a preselected upper/lower fraction ratio, the approximate interface level between the upper and lower fractions in the sample, and means for shifting said pipette, in response to information about such interface level, to position the pipette tip a selected distance below such interface level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A liquid-handling system adapted to transfer an upper fraction and a lower blood-cell fraction from each of a plurality of blood samp ' les contained in sample tubes at various sample levels, by means of a sample-transfer pipette whose tip is shiftable to a selected level within each sample tube, characterized in that the system has a tip-positioning mechanism characterized by a sensor for detecting the upper liquid level in each sample tube, means for calculating, for each sample, based on the detected level in a sample, and on a preselected upper/lower fraction ratio, the approximate interface level between the upper and lower fractions in the sample, and means for shifting said pipette, in response to information about such interface level, to position the pipette tip a selected distance below such interface level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A liquid-handling system according to any of claims 4, 5 and.9 characterized in that the sensor is an optical sensor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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