Robbins Scientific Corporation

The Scripps Research Institute

Arthur J Robbins

Paul B Robbins

Thomas Robert Sutton

Hans D Neumann

David J Wright

Dennis C Thompson

Klaus-Peter Radtke

Michael D Robbins

A bath shaker (10) is provided for agitating liquid baths. The bath shaker (10) incorporates a 'flexible parallelogram' mode of movement wherein a bath shelf (20) is attached to and supported by two, parallel opposing flexible arms (112). Present on each flexible arm (112) is a first attachment portion (124) sandwichedly held by an upright extension (120) and a first hold plate (110), the arrangement causing the first attachment portion (124) to serve as a flexible hinge. A drive mechanism (16) produces a reciprocating action of the bath shelf (20) through the use of an eccentric (80) and a pivoting lever (46) attached to both the eccentric (80) and the bath shelf (20). The flexible parallelogram arrangement defines the reciprocating motion to be substantially rectilinear and makes for an entirely noiseless mode of travel, while producing an extremely smooth transition between reciprocations. Two bath containers (24) are supported by the bath shelf (20) and are provided with a highly accurate temperature control system (26).

Reciprocating bath shaker

A hybridization incubator assembly (10) is provided for incubation of samples contained in elongated sample bottles (16) and short sample bottles (60). The incubator (10) includes and oven body (18) which encloses a rotisserie assembly (14) adapted for carrying and agitating the sample bottles. The rotisserie assembly (14) includes a pair of bottle support wheels (43) mounted eccentrically on a drive shaft (40). The first wheel (44) and the second wheel (46) are mounted at different degrees of eccentricity and are axially separated on the drive shaft (40) by a distance slightly less than the length of the elongated bottles (16). Each support wheel (43) includes a plurality of grasping clamps (60) affixed about the rim portion (56) for holding the bottles (16), with each the grasping clamps (60) being paired with another on the opposing wheel (43) such that a bottle (16) may be supported by both wheels (43). The perimeter surface (58) of each wheel is beveled to facilitate agitation. The drive shaft (40) is caused to rotate by a drive motor (36) and a drive linkage (38) which cause the rotisserie assembly (14) to rotate about a rotational axis (41), thus transporting and agitating the samples within the oven cavity (28). The incubator (10) is primarily utilized for nucleotide hybridization procedures.

Hybridization incubator with rotisserie mechanism

A centrifuge tube has elongated hollow vessel, and the vessel has a closed bottom end. A portion of the inner surface of the vessel is roughened near the closed bottom end, e.g., by micropitting the portion such that the solid pellet or precipitate that is separated from the supernatant of a specimen during centrifuging is retained on the roughened portion when the supernatant is drawn out of the tube subsequent to centrifuging. If desired, a sticky substance can be deposited on the roughened portion of the inner surface to further facilitate retention of the pellet on the roughened portion when the supernatant is drawn out of the tube subsequent to centrifuging.

Centrifuge tube for improved pellet retention

A locking microcentrifuge tube (10) is provided which is capable of being sealed in either of two manners, one being a friction-fit seal which is easily opened and the other being a 'locked' seal for higher stress applications. The tube body (12) is adapted to mate with the cap (14) at an aperture (24) such that the plug portion (36) of the cap (14) and the aperture (24) form the friction-fit seal at the early stages of insertion. A collar (26) is provided about the aperture (24) on the tube body (12). The collar (26) is formed to include one or more circumferential projections (28, 30). The cap (14) is formed to include depressions (32, 34) adapted to mate with the projections (28, 30) upon full insertion of the plug portion (36) to create the 'locked' seal. The cap (14) is secured to the tube body (12) by a hinge (38) and a tab (40). The primary usage of the locking microcentrifuge tube (10) is in biomedical laboratory analysis. The tube (10) may be manufactured in various volumes and shapes to adapt to different microcentrifuges and desired sample sizes.

Locking microcentrifuge tube

The present invention is an improved sealable vial for storage of materials. The vial includes a tubular body portion sealed at one end and provided with an aperture at the opposite end. The tubular body is further provided with a male spiral thread about the aperture end and a tapered section extending inward from the aperture. A sealing insert is attached to the body for positioning in either a closed position wherein it seals the aperture or an open position wherein the aperture is open. A cap fits over the sealing insert in the closed position and seals the vial. The cap includes female threads which mate with the male threads of the tubular body to secure the closure. The vial is particularly adapted for cryogenic storage of organic samples. The vial is also adaptable to other applications wherein complete sealing is required under wide temperature and pressure range conditions. The improved seals provided by the interface between the sealing insert and the tubular body prevent leakage into or out of the vial.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Arthur J Robbins