Beckman Instruments, Inc.

Brian Sanford

R Fred Pfost

Dale R Pfost

Robert M Coppock

Katherine L Puckett

Donald S Murray

Samuel Ascher Marquiss

Torleif O Bjornson

Carl Kowalski

A method of programming a programmable controller in a manner by which a variety of menus, options, or questions seeking limited parameter answers are presented to the user; for example, setup parameters such as the type of labware, source and destination of reagent transfer etc. for conducting a particular biological and chemical assay experiments by an automated laboratory workstation. Software 'templates' are used to focus the request for parameters from the user to tailor user needs to the laboratory workstation's capabilities. The software templates are designed to accommodate a wide variety of experimental setups in accordance with the setup parameters input by the user. By providing the parameters with the assistance of the templates, the user may program a complete set of instructions for conducting a biological or chemical assay. The instructions may include the time and method for undertaking the experiment. Further instructions may be given the laboratory workstation to conduct the later phases of experiments based upon earlier results of measurements.

User programmable control

An automated multi-purpose analytical chemistry processing center and laboratory work station having a movable table for supporting microtiter plates and other fluid receptacles, a movable arm, and a modular mobile pod affixed for reciprocal movement along the arm. The work station combines into a single programmable system the capabilities for automation of a wide range of bioanalytical procedures including, not only sample pipetting, serial dilution, reagent additions, mixing, reaction timing and similar known manual procedures, but also programmable spectrophotometric measurements and other physical parameters, further processing based on these measurements and automatic data recording. The work station is adapted to transfer, dispense, and aspirate liquid from one location to another automatically in accordance with user programmed instructions. The work station is capable of measuring physical characteristics of selected samples and performing experimental assays in a closed loop manner in accordance with those measurements. Fluid is dispensed and aspirated using an interchangeable modules having one or a selected plurality of nozzles. Affixed to the modules nozzles are disposable pipettor tips, which are automatically picked up by the pod and ejected by a tip ejector mechanism at the control of the user. Additional modules may be used to perform Measurement Functions. The work station is designed for interactive connection with a remote computer.

Automated multi-purpose analytical chemistry processing center and

An automated multi-purpose analytical chemistry processing center and laboratory work station having a movable table for supporting microtiter plates and other fluid receptacles, a movable arm, and a modular mobile pod affixed for reciprocal movement along the arm. The workstation combines into a single programmable system the capabilities for automation of a wide range of bioanalytical procedures including, not only sample pipetting, serial dilution, reagent additions, mixing, reaction timing and similar known manual procedures, but also programmable spectrophotometric measurements and other physical parameters, further processing based on these measurements and automatic data recording. The work station is adapted to transfer, dispense, and aspirate liquid from one location to another automatically in accordance with user programmed instructions. The work station is capable of measuring physical characteristics of selected samples and performing experimental assays in a closed loop manner in accordance with those measurements. Fluid is dispensed and aspirated using an interchangeable modules having one or a selected plurality of nozzles. Affixed to the modules nozzles are disposable pipettor tips, which are automatically picked up by the pod and ejected by a tip edjector mechanism at the control of the user. Additional modules may be used to perform Measurement Functions. The work station is designed for interactive connection with a remote computer.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Brian Sanford