Neopost Inc.

Smiths Detection-watford Limited

Thomas David Ford

Piers Sebastian Harding

Douglas Jason Green

Gary Howard

Jay Lewington

William Richard Mawer

John Walter Czajka

Carmelo Volpe

Michael Roy Fairs

Barry Boyes

Catherine Mills

Colin Fewster

Jonathan Kemp

Jason Betley

Stephen John Grimwade

Apparatus for preparing a biological sample for PCR analysis has an inlet () for receiving the sample () and a sieve () through which the sample is forced by screwing down an inlet cap (). A lysis solution between two rupturable seals (and) is effective to disrupt the cells of the sample and release nucleic acid. The apparatus is mounted releasably on a PCR machine () having a motor () releasably coupled with a drive mechanism () in the apparatus to effect a rotary and a vertical up and down movement of its components (). The apparatus has a transparent cuvette () and a needle () extending to the lower end of the cuvette, by which the prepared sample is dispensed to the cuvette for PCR analysis.

Sample preparation apparatus

An ink jet printer mechanism is disclosed in which a print receiving medium is supported in a clamp in a printing station and a print head is traversed through the printing station. A service station for the print head is provided adjacent the printing station and the print head is traversed to the service station between printing operations. The service station includes a carriage which is movable by a drive motor to bring capping and wiping elements into engagement with the print head. A mechanical linkage from the carriage opens the clamp when the capping element is aligned for engagement with the print head.

Ink jet printer mechanism with mechanically linked service station

Growing community of inventors

Royston, United Kingdom

Thomas David Ford