Tecan Trading Ag

Andreas Gfrörer

Harald Gebetsroither

Josef J Atzler

Gyoergy Wenczel

Andreas Erlbacher

Frank Michael Fischer

Wolfgang Streit

Josef Grassl

Wolfgang Fuchs

Juha Koota

Andreas Schenk

Alois Schausberger

Frank Fischer

A method for investigating biological cells or cell cultures in a microplate reader receives at least one microplate with wells containing biological cells or cell cultures by a receiving device; positions the wells with respect to measuring devices of the microplate reader and detects integral measurement signals by at least one of the measuring devices. The biological cells or cell cultures in the specific wells of the microplate(s) are transilluminated by an illumination source of the microplate reader and imaged by an imaging camera. Each of the detected integral signals is compared with the image of the biological cells or cell cultures in the corresponding wells of the microplate(s) by a processor and is related to the imaged number, adherence, confluence or morphology of these biological cells or cell cultures.

Method and microplate reader for investigating biological cells or cell cultures

A slide transfer mechanism for a laser scanner device for imaging and measuring fluorescent samples is located in a sample plane on sample slides. The device includes a first optical system for providing laser beams and at least one detector for detecting an emission beam bundle coming from the sample, and a second optical system for forwarding the emission beam bundle to the at least one detector. The slide transfer mechanism has a motorized transport device for transferring a sample slide to the sample table and back. The storage unit of the laser scanner device includes a positioning plate for mounting a sample part magazine that has an open insertion side for storing sample slides in specific depositories. At a corner opposite to the insertion side, the sample part magazine includes a check opening for monitoring the presence or absence of a sample slide in a specific depository.

Slide transfer mechanism for a laser scanner device for imaging and measuring fluorescent samples having motorized slide transfer device

Method has laser scanner for pixel-precise imaging of fluorescent samples having fluorescent dyes. The scanner has sample table, laser and first optical system providing laser beam for exciting the samples, scanner head with deflecting element for scanning sample, first lens, second optical system for forwarding emission beams triggered by the laser beam and deflected by first lens and deflecting element to a detector, position encoder emitting position signals indicating location of the scanner head, electronic element for filtering the detector signals with a time constant and an A/D converter for digitizing the filtered detector signals. The filtered detector signals and the position encoder signals are acquired independently, in parallel and continuously by a computer and are related to a common time base, the A/D conversion being carried out often so that each pixel of an image is always assigned more than one data point.

Data acquisition method using a laser scanner

A laser scanner device () for imaging and/or measuring fluorescent samples located on slides and treated using fluorescent pigments includes a sample table () defining a sample plane () and a motorized transport device () for moving a slide from a storage unit () to the sample table () and back. The storage unit () includes one sample part () for sample slides () and one test part () for test slides (), each having at least one depository () and being accessible during the operation of the laser scanner device () for the transport device (). The test part () is implemented separately from the sample part () and as a test part magazine (') that is permanently connected to the laser scanner device () for one or more test slides ().

Laser scanner device with limited test part accessibility

Laser scanner and method images or measures fluorescent samples on specimen slides treated with different fluorescent dyes. Motor-driveable sample table for the slides includes a laser and first optical system creating two laser beams of differing wavelength, a scanner with movable head and an optical deflection element for deflecting the beams toward the sample. Scanner has second optical system for forwarding emission beam bundles to two detectors for detecting emission beam bundles coming from the samples. A drive and counter oscillator connected to the drive by connecting rods drives the head for rapid back-and-forth movement and the counter oscillator has a mass at least equivalent to the head for compensation by opposite movement to the head. The optical deflection element causes spatial separation of two resulting focal points and a spatial separation of the two beam bundles in the direction of the detectors.

Laser scanner apparatus for fluorescence measurements

A laser scanner apparatus images and/or measures a fluorescent sample on a moveable table. At least one laser and an optical system provide two laser beams at differing wavelengths parallel to the fluorescent sample. A moveable wedge-shaped dichroic mirror deflects the laser beams through an objective toward the sample causing spatial separation of the focal points and two non-parallel emission beams. The emission beams are guided through an optical system to two detectors.

A holding device for at least one object carrier, the object carrier being suitable to receive one or more organic and/or inorganic samples and comprising materials such as glass, plastic, silicon, pyrolytic graphite, and/or metal, this holding device being configured to be gripped by grippers of a robot. The holding device comprising two essentially parallel lengthwise walls and two essentially parallel transverse walls which extend substantially at right angles from the lengthwise walls. Holding devices according to preferred embodiments are constructed in a frame shape, wherein the lengthwise and transverse walls define a frame surrounding at least one opening which completely transverses the device. Holding devices according to further embodiments are constructed a plate shape, in that the region between the lengthwise walls and transverse walls is implemented as a carrying surface. All embodiments comprising gripping surfaces on the external surface profile of the lengthwise and transverse walls.

Holding device

An optical system for exciting and measuring fluorescence of samples has a first laser; a deflection element; a mirror; and an optic fixed in relation to one another. A unit is linearly movable back and forth along the optical axis and is mechanically connected to an oscillating linear drive. The optic acts as a collimator and the mirror acts to deflect the collimated light diametrically opposite to the bundled light of the laser. A table for receiving sample holders for samples; an optical arrangement for imaging a second focal point; an aperture plate in the second focal point; a first spectral filter; and a first detector are parts of the optical system and a focusing beam of the light emitted by the laser and is deflected by the deflection element toward the mirror.

Optical system and method for exciting and measuring fluorescence on or in samples treated with fluorescent pigments

An optical system and method of exciting and measuring fluorescence on or in samples treated using fluorescent pigments using such an optical system having at least one first laser (); a mirror (); a deflection element (); an optic (); and a unit (), which includes mirror () and optic () mounted fixed in relation to one another. The unit () is positioned so it is linearly movable back and forth along the optical axis () and is mechanically connected to an oscillating linear drive (). The optic () additionally acts as a collimator and the mirror () additionally acts to deflect the collimated light () parallel to the optical axis ().

Growing community of inventors

Königsdorf, Germany

Andreas Gfrörer