Life Technologies Corporation

Maximilian Carpino

Kristopher Barbee

Nicholas Peter Bajka

Ray Wheeling

Ryan Jones

Jonathan M Schultz

John Harris Leamon

Sean McCusker

Raymond Alan Wheeling

Sean Mccusker

The present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated handling of samples, e.g., biological or chemical samples. The apparatuses and the methods of the present teachings allow automated performance of various sample manipulation steps without manual intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated enrichment of templated beads produced by PCR.

Method and apparatus for automated sample preparation

A sample preparation apparatus includes a robotic system providing movement in three orthogonal directions to an arm operable to receive a pipette tip and to facilitate movement of fluid into and out of the pipette tip. Optionally, the robot can include a gripper arm in addition to the pipette receiving arm. In addition, the sample preparation apparatus can include a tray for receiving pipette tips, receptacles for receiving tubes, an apparatus for forming an emulsion, a device for forming particles that include copies of the polynucleotide, a device for enriching the particles, as well as a centrifuge for loading such particles onto a sensor array. The sample preparation apparatus can further include receptacles for holding containers of reagent solutions.

Centrifuge with variable angle buckets and method for loading a device

Method and apparatus for automated sample manipulation

A method for breaking emulsions includes applying a polymer mixture to an emulsion. The emulsion can be energized, such as through centrifugation or vibration. In particular, the polymer mixture can be in liquid form. The polymer mixture includes first and second liquid polymer, the second liquid polymer being less hydrophilic than the first liquid polymer. Example polymer useful as the first or second liquid polymers includes polyether. In a water-in-oil emulsion, the less hydrophilic polymer can preferentially reside within the oil phase.

Polymer-based emulsion breaking methods

An apparatus includes a robotic system providing movement in three orthogonal directions to an arm operable to receive a pipette tip and to facilitate movement of fluid into and out of the pipette tip. In addition, the apparatus can include a tray for receiving pipette tips, receptacles for receiving tubes, an apparatus for forming an emulsion, a device for forming particles that include copies of the polynucleotide, a device for enriching the particles and an apparatus for loading such particles onto a sensor array. The apparatus can further include receptacles for holding containers of reagent solutions. Optionally, the robot can include a gripper arm in addition to the pipette receiving arm.

Centrifuge and method for loading a device

Automated enrichment for nucleic acid sequencing

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Uncasville, CT, United States of America

Maximilian Carpino