The Perkin-elmer Corporation

Applied Biosystems, LLC

Applera Corporation

Perkinelmer Instruments LLC

Marcel Margulies

Timothy M Woudenberg

John Girdner Atwood

Robert P Ragusa

Richard A Leath

Lisa May Goven

Fenton Williams

Clive Miles

Albert Carmelo Mossa

E Joel McCorkle

Jurgen Schawe

Donald G Mackay

Ernest M Bevilacqua

Herman Vogel

Richard T Ferranti

Ralph W Keese

Michael P DiVito

A thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction is provided. The thermal cycler comprises a heater control that provides close temperature control of the reaction.

Thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction with close temperature control

An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.

The invention is directed to a differential analysis method and apparatus wherein a sample and reference are subjected to an externally applied disturbance, such as temperature change, in accord with a prescribed function comprising the sum of a linearly changing part and a periodically changing part, and the measured differential signal is processed into real and imaginary components relating, respectively, to the energy storage and energy loss portions of the signal.

Apparatus and method for differential analysis using real and imaginary signal components

Enclosure for analytical instrumentation

A two-piece plastic holder for loosely holding microliter sample tubes of a preselected design, each tube having a cylindrically shaped upper section open at its top end, a closed, tapered lower section extending downwardly therefrom, and a circumferential shoulder extending outwardly from the upper section at a position on the upper section spaced from the open end thereof. The holder includes a one-piece tray member and a one-piece retainer. The one-piece tray member including a flat, horizontal plate section containing holes in a rectangular array, a first vertical tray sidewall section around the plate extending upwardly to a height greater than the height of a tube resting in one of the holes, and a second vertical tray sidewall section around the plate extending downwardly approximately to the bottom of the upper section of a tube resting in one of the holes. The one-piece retainer is releasably engageable inside the tray over any sample tubes resting in the tray. The retainer comprises a flat, horizontal plate section containing holes in a rectangular array, and a vertical retainer sidewall section around the retainer plate section extending upwardly from the plate. When the retainer is engaged inside the tray, the retainer plate section lies slightly above the shoulder of a tube resting in the tray and the first tray sidewall section is about as high as the retainer sidewall section, so that tubes resting in the tray are retained loosely both vertically and laterally.

Two piece holder for PCR sample tubes

An apparatus for controlling level of cryogenic liquid in a vessel includes a transfer duct to a pressure supply tank. Pressure pulses are applied to the tank at one rate when the level is below a primary sensor in the vessel, and at a lower rate when the level is above the sensor, so as to compensate for intrinsic declination of the level. At startup a constant pressure is applied to the tank until the level reaches a lower sensor, and a relief valve over the tank is opened when the level overshoots to an upper sensor. Turbulence in the vessel is reduced by a pair of coaxial baffles at the liquid inlet to the vessel, and by a housing with tubular extensions enveloping the sensors.

Apparatus for controlling level of cryogenic liquid

Thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain

Apparatus and method for differential analysis using real and imaginary

A mass filter for charged particles includes a cylindrical conductive housing at ground potential and an array of linear conductors arranged in parallel in the housing and divided equally into four subarrays. The conductors of each subarray lie in one of four planes having a tubular arrangement with a square cross section on the longitudinal axis of the housing. The conductors have a substantially uniform distribution in the planes. A dedicated voltage is applied to each conductor in each subarray, the voltages being selected cooperatively and with the dimensions of the housing and the square cross section, such that a quadrupole type of electric field is generated within the tubular arrangement. Equations are disclosed for determining the voltages.

Quadrupole mass filter for charged particles

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Scarsdale, NY, United States of America

Marcel Margulies