Hamilton Bonaduz Ag

Nando Giovanoli

Andreas Städler

Reto Menzi

The invention relates to a sample processing system and method for processing biological samples, comprising a sample processing device having: a receiving plate, which is arranged substantially horizontally in a plane; a first and second working arm, which can move relative to the receiving plate and extend substantially parallel to each other in a second direction (Y) over the receiving plate; at least one pipetting device mounted on the first working arm, which is movable in the second direction (Y) and in a third direction (Z) orthogonal in relation to the first and second direction (X, Y); at least one gripping device, mounted on the second working arm, with grippers that can be rotated around a gripper axis of rotation (GA) parallel to the third direction (Z); and a control device for controlling the pipetting device and the gripping device.

Sample processing system for processing biological samples

A punching device for processing samples applied to a sample card is provided. The punching device includes a movable gripper unit and an image capturing device and at least one punching head having a punch and a lower die. The punching head has a receiving opening into which a sample card is introducible by means of the movable gripper unit and is positionable relative to the punching head. The punching device further includes a punching drive which is couplable or coupled to the punch of the punching head. The punching device further includes a receiving plate supporting the receiving container and having a light source illuminating at least a part of the receiving plate. The light source is arranged such that at least a part of the receiving container located on the receiving plate can be illuminated from the direction of the receiving plate. The punching device further includes an image processing device configured to use data about positioning of the receiving container relative to the image capturing device to determine an analysis set of receiving recesses of the receiving container.

Punching device with illuminated receiving plate

The invention relates to a sample processing system and method for processing biological samples, comprising a sample processing device having: a receiving plate, which is arranged substantially horizontally in a plane; a first and second working arm, which can move relative to the receiving plate and extend substantially parallel to each other in a second direction (Y) over the receiving plate; at least one pipetting device mounted on the first working arm, which is movable in a second direction (Y) and in a third direction (Z) orthogonal in relation to the first and second direction (X, Y); at least one gripping device, mounted on the second working arm, with grippers that can be rotated around a gripper axis of rotation (GA) parallel to the third direction (Z); and a control device for controlling the pipetting device and the gripping device.

A punching device is provided for processing samples applied to a sample card comprising at least one punching head with a punch and a lower die, the punch being movable between a resting position and a punching position. The punching head has a receiving opening into which a sample card can be introduced by a movable gripping unit, and a punching drive, which drives the movement of the punch between the resting position and the punching position. A piece of sample punched out from the sample card can be discharged at an outlet opening of the lower die into a receiving recess of a receiving container. The punching head comprises a structure separate from the punching device, wherein the structure of the punching head forms an exchangeable module that is couplable to the punching device and the punching drive.

Punching device with modular punching means

A punching device is provided for processing samples applied to a sample card comprising at least one punching head with a punch and a lower die, the punch being movable between a resting position and a punching position. The punching head has a receiving opening into which a sample card can be introduced by a movable gripping unit, and a punching drive, which drives the movement of the punch between the resting position and the punching position. A piece of sample punched out from the sample card can be discharged at an outlet opening of the lower die into a receiving recess of a receiving container. The gripper unit comprises a sample card gripper and a receiving container gripper which are moveable by a drive unit in three main directions that are orthogonal to one another.

Punching device with gripper unit

A punching device is provided for processing samples applied to a sample card comprising at least one punching head with a punch and a lower die, the punch being movable between a resting position and a punching position. The punching head has a receiving opening into which a sample card can be introduced by a movable gripping unit, and a punching drive, which drives the movement of the punch between the resting position and the punching position. A piece of sample punched out from the sample card can be discharged at an outlet opening of the lower die into a receiving recess of a receiving container. The punching device has a receiving plate, which forms a cover of an outwardly sealed housing for a drive unit, by which a transport frame resting on the receiving plate is moved in a plate plane relative to the punching head.

Growing community of inventors

Bivio, Switzerland

Nando Giovanoli