Hoffmann-la Roche Inc.

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Patrick Iaiza

Tom Kissling

Thomas Zumstein

Dieter Voegelin

Christof Fattinger

Claudia Mcginnis

An apparatus () for the automatic testing of substances for carcinogenicity comprises: a plate support () on which at least one micro-well plate () can be placed; a movable pipetting unit () comprising a predetermined number of pipettes (); a number of containers () containing a liquid culture medium (), the number of containers () corresponding to the number of pipettes () of the pipetting unit (); a dish support () on which a corresponding number of dishes () can be placed, each having a bottom and an upstanding side wall (); a plurality of spinners () for spinning the dishes (); a plurality of suction cups () for placing a lid () on each of the dishes; and a plurality of laterally arranged belts () for transporting the closed dishes () to an intermediate storage ().

Process and apparatus for testing substances for potential carcinogenicity

A hanging droplet plate () comprises a predetermined number of droplet compartments () each being capable of receiving a droplet of a liquid. The respective droplet compartment () comprises a circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier () which is arranged to surround a respective cavity () and which prevents a droplet from spreading beyond the microfluidic wetting barrier (). The respective compartment () comprises a closed bottom () and at least one additional circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (), each additional circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier () which is arranged to surround a preceding circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (). A wettable area () is arranged between two adjacently arranged microfluidic wetting barriers ().

Hanging droplet plate

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Saint Louis, France

Patrick Iaiza