Tecan Trading Ag

Waltraud Lamprecht

Gyoergy Wenczel

Wolfgang Streit

Heribert Eglauer

Anton Mathes

Josef Grassl

Manfred Lansing

A temperature equalizing plate () for a micro plate reader (), onto which temperature equalizing plate () a microplate with wells can be removably arranged, the temperature equalizing plate () having a plate-shaped body, wherein a first vertical offset is provided between four upward facing corner surfaces () and four upward facing edge surfaces () and wherein a second vertical offset is provided between the four upward facing edge surfaces () and one upward facing center surface (), resulting in gaps between at least some of the upward facing surfaces () of the temperature equalizing plate () and corresponding wells of the thereon arranged microplate.

Temperature equalizing plate for a microplate reader and microplate reader with such a temperature equalizing plate

A device provides a hybridization chamber for hybridizing nucleic acid samples, proteins or tissue sections on a slide, and is an essentially rectangular body movable opposite the slide. The device includes a surface, lines for supplying and/or removing media, a specimen supply line and an agitating device. The agitation device includes at least one membrane which separates a pressure chamer to be fillable with a pressure fluid via one of the lines, from at least one agitation chamber connected via an agitation line to the hybridization chamber. The lines are continuously open so the media therein can permanently flow unhindered. Four such devices can be combined into a process unit for providing a hybridization chamber. Such unit is pivotable around an axis and has a holder with four seats, which is lockable in relation to a baseplate, one device being insertable into each one of the seats.

Device and process unit for providing a hybridization chamber

The present invention relates to a system () having hybridization chambers () for hybridizing nucleic acid samples, proteins, or tissue sections immobilized on slides (), each hybridization chamber () being defined as an essentially gap-shaped chamber, which is essentially fillable with a liquid, between one of these slides () and a cover (), and the cover () being positioned in relation to the slide () in such a way that the hybridization chamber () is sealed to the surrounding air, the system () including a device for preventing air bubbles in the hybridization chambers (). The system according to the present invention is distinguished in that this device for preventing air bubbles in the hybridization chambers () is implemented as a pressure device to build up a chamber pressure in the hybridization chambers (), this chamber pressure lying above the normal atmospheric pressure existing in the surrounding air. The present invention additionally relates to a method for preventing air bubbles in the hybridization chambers () of such a system () and is distinguished in that, using a pressure device of this system (), a chamber pressure is implemented in the hybridization chambers () which lies above the normal atmospheric pressure existing in the surrounding air.

System having device for preventing air bubbles in a hybridization chamber and corresponding method

A device, appropriate process units and/or systems for providing a gap-shaped hybridization space to hybridize nucleic acid samples, proteins or tissue sections over a slide. Said items of device are able to move in relation to the slide and comprise an annular sealing surface to seal the hybridization space by application to a surface of the slide. Said items of device additionally comprise lines to introduce media to and remove them from the hybridization space. Said items of device furthermore comprise a specimen supply line and preferably an agitation device to move fluids in relation to the samples immobilized on the surface of the slide. The devices according to the invention are characterized in that they limit a hybridization space that features relief structures to conduct and/or block air bubbles on at least one surface of the device and the slide directed at the interior of this hybridization space. According to the method of the invention, air bubbles present in the hybridization space are conducted and/or blocked by these relief structures.

Device and method for providing a hybridization chamber and for influencing air bubbles in the same

A device () is disclosed for providing a hybridization chamber (), for hybridizing nucleic acid samples, proteins, or tissue sections on a slide (), which is implemented so that it is movable in relation to this slide () and includes an annular sealing surface () for sealing the hybridization chamber () by being applied to a surface () of this slide (), lines () for supplying and/or removing media to and/or from the hybridization chamber (), and a specimen supply line (). The devices according to the invention include a media-separating agitation device () for moving liquids in relation to samples immobilized on the surface () of the slide (). Furthermore, process units () for hybridizing nucleic acid samples, proteins, or tissue sections and corresponding automatable systems including such process units () are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Salzburg, Austria

Waltraud Lamprecht