Robbins Scientific Corporation

David J Wright

Paul B Robbins

Chris N Bailey

James E Stanchfield

Hans D Neumann

Arthur J Robbins

Kenny J St Romain

David De Graaff

Kevin Heyes

Multi-well apparatus with independently detachable upper and lower covers

An apparatus for multiple simultaneous synthesis ( ), having a number of vials ( ), each vial ( ) having an upper end ( ), a lower end ( ), and a barrel ( ), the upper end ( ) opening into a mouth ( ). It also includes a lower frame assembly ( ) having a number of holes ( ) for receiving the vials ( ), and an upper frame assembly ( ), which includes inner side-walls ( ) and a ceiling portion ( ). A gas-tight seal ( ) surrounds a plenum ( ), the plenum ( ) being formed between the ceiling portion ( ) of the upper frame assembly ( ) and the lower frame assembly ( ). The plenum ( ) is adjustable in volume by the positioning of the upper frame assembly ( ) in variable relation to the lower frame assembly ( ), while maintaining the gas-tight seal ( ). The volume of the plenum ( ) is adjustable to a minimum whereby the mouths ( ) of the vials ( ) are sealed by the ceiling ( ) of the gas-tight seal ( ), which is optionally an upper gasket ( ). Also disclosed is a plenum enclosure ( ) for multiple simultaneous synthesis used in conjunction with vials ( ), which includes the upper frame assembly ( ) and lower frame assembly ( ) and the gastight seal ( ), as well as a gasket vial holder ( ) to be used in the plenum enclosure ( ).

Multi-well array with adjustable plenum

A syringe with replaceable needle assembly ( ), having a syringe barrel ( ) with a proximal end ( ), a distal end ( ), and an outer surface ( ). The syringe barrel ( ) surrounds an internal bore ( ). A plunger assembly ( ) is inserted into the syringe barrel internal bore ( ). A needle assembly ( ) has a sealing portion ( ), which is configured to be removably insertable into the internal bore ( ). The sealing portion ( ) forms a fluid-tight seal with the internal bore ( ). The needle assembly ( ) further includes a releasable locking mechanism ( ), which includes a collar ( ) having a locking flange ( ). Also disclosed is a replaceable needle assembly ( ), which releasably locks onto the outer surface ( ) of the proximal end ( ) of a syringe barrel ( ). The replaceable needle assembly ( ) includes a collar ( ), having a locking flange ( ), which engages the outer surface ( ) of the syringe barrel ( ), and releasably locks the replaceable needle assembly ( ) onto the syringe barrel ( ).

Locking cap for replaceable needle assembly

A syringe array (10) for holding a plurality of syringes (12), each syringe having a barrel (14), a plunger (18) and a needle (16), the syringe array (10) including a distal assembly (50) which holds the plungers (18) of the plurality of syringes (12) and by which all of the plurality of plungers (18) are urged to move in unison, a pivot assembly (52) wherein a portion of each the barrels (14) of the plurality of syringes (12) is pivotally attached to a pivot (92, 94) and a proximal assembly (48) wherein each needle (16) of the plurality of syringes (12) is positioned with a controlled center-to-center spacing (100, 102) from each other. An adjusting portion (62, 64, 70) of the syringe array (10) is adjustable to controllably change the needle center-to-center spacing from a first spacing (100) to at least a second spacing (102) as the barrel portions (14) are allowed to rotate about the pivots (92, 94).

Syringe array with adjustable needle spacing

A multi-well synthesis and filtration apparatus (10) dimensionally arrayed in a standard multi-well format for performing multiple chemical reactions includes a deep-well synthesis block (12) with flowthrough wells (24) fitted with filter disks (48), an upper cover (14), and a lower cover (16). First and second sheet gaskets (18 and 20) seal inlet portions (38) and outlet spouts (40) of the wells (24). An optional skirt (26) provides a site for the independently releasable attachment of the upper and lower covers (14 and 16) to the block (12) while maintaining the seal on the unreleased cover. An alternative synthesis apparatus (310) additionally includes a reinforcement assembly (372) to improve the clamping action of the covers (14 and 16) upon the synthesis block (12). A rotating carrier apparatus (200) and a modified oven assembly (202) are provided to enable agitation and heating of multiple synthesis blocks (12) simultaneously.

Apparatus for multi-well microscale synthesis

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).

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

David J Wright