Helena Laboratories Corporation

Robert J Sarrine

Henry A Garsee

Philip A Guadagno

Tipton L Golias

Charles D Kelley

Eric H Petersen

Michael T Everitt

Earl W Boone

Joseph H Golias

Ovay H Mayes

James R Sanford

Ronald A Mayes

Mark E Merchant

Suzan Robinson

James Robert Markus Sanford

Barbara M Warren

Edgar F Neely

Novel apparatuses and methods for depositing or placing substances on substrates or plates are described. The invention relates to automated and semiautomated apparatuses and methods for controlled volume and precise placement of substances on substrates. Combinations of applicator tips, applicator tip assemblies, applicator reservoirs, applicator holders and movable racks precisely and accurately place samples and testing chemicals on substrates. Applicator tips particularly useful for dunk transfer and deposit processes and for carrying substances are disclosed. Apparatuses for precisely moving applicator holders, applicator reservoirs and tips are disclosed. The methods and apparatuses also have features for pre-loading substances on applicators and applicator reservoirs and precisely delivering the preloaded substances to substrates.

System for the application of samples on a substrate

A multichannel pipette has downwardly depending tip cones to receive disposable tips which have free ends. Adjacent tip cones, and thus the disposable tips, are spaced apart a first distance, which is referred to as the intra-channel spacing. An adapter changes the intra-channel spacing of the free ends of the pipette tips. The adapter has a series of apertures therethrough, and the distance (center-to-center) between adjacent apertures differs from the first distance. The disposable tips are inserted through the adapter to change the intra-channel spacing between the free ends of the tips, either by spreading out or contracting the spacing between the free ends of the tips.

Pipette adapter

An apparatus for electrophoresing a sample and for thereafter either scanning in the visible mode or the fluorescent mode, under control of a central processor, to provide scanning densitometry of the electrophoresed sample, and with the fluorescent mode scanning being performed in situ. The apparatus includes a gantry which moves from left to right in the XY plane. The gantry draws, delivers and deposits the samples and reagents, and includes safety devices to prevent the gantry from movement and damage when there are obstructions in the path of the gantry. A fluorescent scanning unit is moved by X- and Y-direction motors to position a photomultiplier over an electrophoresed sample. In this way, the electrophoretic sample can remain fixed in place during sample delivery, ultraviolet exposure and measurement operations.

Automatic electrophoresis apparatus with fluorescent and visible scanning

An electrophoresis apparatus for automatically performing medical assays includes an electrophoresis platform which cooperates with a gantry assembly. The electrophoresis platform and the gantry assembly are movable along paths that are perpendicular to each other. An applicator assembly includes pipettes which transfer fluid samples from a specimen tray to an electrophoresis plate mounted on the electrophoresis platform. The electrophoresis platform then moves to a position into the gantry assembly, where electrophoresis is conducted to separate the samples into different fractions. The electrophoresis platform then moves beneath a reagent pouring station where a reagent is applied to make the separated fractions fluoresce under ultraviolet light. The electrophoresis platform is then moved beneath the gantry assembly again, and an air knife in the gantry assembly spreads the reagent. After incubation and drying of the electrophoresis plate, the electrophoresis platform and gantry assembly are moved relative to one another while the electrophoresis plate is read with the aid of ultraviolet lamps and a photomultiplier tube mounted in the gantry assembly. The gain of the photomultiplier tube is automatically adjusted and the data gathered is automatically edited to remove background noise. The edited results can be printed or displayed on a video monitor. Techniques for calibrating the electrophoresis apparatus are also disclosed.

Automatic electrophoresis method and apparatus

A platform for conducting electrophoresis includes a support, at least one first electrode which extends upward from the support, and at least one second electrode which also extends upward from the support. An electrophoresis plate is deposited on the support during a medical testing procedure. The electrophoresis plate includes a substrate and an electrophoretic medium layer on the substrate, the electrophoretic medium layer having first and second end regions. The at least one first electrode of the platform extends through a corresponding hole in the substrate to electrically contact the first end region of the electrophoretic medium layer and the at least one second electrode extends through a corresponding hole in the substrate to electrically contact the second end region of the electrophoretic medium layer. This arrangement makes it easy to install the electrophoresis plate on the platform and also provides good electrical contact with the electrodes. Holes are preferably provided in the first and second end regions of the electrophoretic medium layer above the holes in the substrate, and bubbles generated at the electrodes due to electrolytic decomposition of water in the electrophoretic medium layer escape through these holes. A bipolar power supply is preferably used in order to subdue arcing.

Platform for conducting electrophoresis, and electrophoresis plate for

Method for calibrating a piston and cylinder type applicator

A support system for an equipment housing includes a pair of screw-adjustable legs at one end of the housing and a pivoting trestle at the other end. The pivoting trestle is made of two channel members, one nested inside the other. The channel members have side walls, and a bolt extends through holes in the side walls to pivotally mount one member with respect to the other. Alternatively, the members can be pivotally connected together using a ball-and-socket or cylinder-and-sleeve connection. The housing can be levelled by adjusting the effective length of the two legs, and the trestle automatically pivots to accommodate these adjustments as they are made.

Support system for an equipment housing

A pump for discharging the contents of a sealed container, such as a test tube, is connected to a body member which includes an inlet path and a discharge path with a delivery tube in the discharge path. A predetermined clearance is provided between the exterior of the delivery tube and the interior of the discharge path, the clearance providing venting, or blow-by, such that temperature changes do not cause accidental discharge of the contents of the container, while still maintaining sufficient resistance to venting for permitting pressurizing the interior of the test tube with the pump for accurately controlling the discharge of the test tube contents. A second or supplemental vent is provided in the pump.

Apparatus for discharging contents of a sealed container

A support system for an equipment housing includes a pair of screw-adjustable legs at one end of the housing and a pivoting trestle at the other end. The pivoting trestle is made of two generally U-shaped channel members, one nested inside the other. The channel members have side walls, and a bolt extends through holes in the side walls to pivotally mount one channel with respect to the other. The housing can be levelled by adjusting the effective length of the two legs, and the trestle automatically pivots to accommodate these adjustments as they are made.

A biological fluid collection and dispensing apparatus for attachment to a test tube includes a pump and a cannula assembly including a fluid transfer cannula and a vent cannula housed partially within the pump. Biological fluid may be both collected and delivered with the apparatus, and the apparatus may remain attached to the test tube during processing of the collected biological fluid sample.

Biological fluid collection and delivery apparatus and method

A method and apparatus for removing unreacted protein and unreacted antisera from a gel plate during immunofixation electrophoresis. The apparatus includes a pressure plate movable toward and away from a fixed base for exerting a desired force on the electrophoresis plate. A stop member limits the movement of the pressure plate toward the fixed base thus controlling the amount of pressure on the electrophoresis plate.

Agarose plate press

A biological fluid collection and dispensing apparatus for attachment to a sealed test tube includes a pump and a housing, the housing having a movable portion, and a cannula assembly mounted relative to the housing. Biological fluid is withdrawn from a patient and flows through the pump and housing into the interior of the sealed test tube. The pump is actuated initially to release a delivery conduit and to move the housing such that part of the cannula assembly pierces the test tube seal. The pump is thereafter actuated to pressurize the contents of the test tube such that aliquots may be dispensed through the cannula assembly and delivery tube.

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Beaumont, TX, United States of America

Robert J Sarrine