Tecan Trading Ag

Wolfgang Streit

Gyoergy Wenczel

Waltraud Lamprecht

Heribert Eglauer

Wolfgang Fuchs

Juha Koota

Anton Mathes

Andreas Gfrörer

Josef Grassl

Setting method for microplate washing devices has a receptacle for receiving a microplate and a washing head having washing cannulas. The cannulas are in an array corresponding to a well array with lowermost ends define a work plane. This work plane is parallel to a reference plane. In a first phase, the receptacle and/or washing head are moved together until the lowermost ends of the cannulas touch a surface defining the reference plane. A sensor device has a controller linked thereto and from the sensor device is registered using the controller and a relative altitude value is determined therewith, which indicates touching of the surface by the lowermost ends of the cannulas or for determining the position of this surface. Based on this, an active altitude of the lowermost ends of the washing cannulas in relation to an inner surface of the well bottoms of a microplate is determined.

Setting method for microplate washing devices

Method for registering filling potential of a waste container of a microplate washing device has a needle for aspirating liquids, a waste container, a pump for generating a partial vacuum and a pressure sensor for determining air pressure in the container, a sensor controller, and a first valve for blocking the line between the needle and the waste container. The pump and needle are connected to the container and the method includes closing the first valve, generating a partial vacuum in a test range, closing a further valve between the container and the pump, opening the first valve, triggering a partial vacuum dissipation in the container, measuring a test time for the partial vacuum dissipation in the test range, comparing the test time to a known threshold time, and deciding that the waste container is fillable or not.

Method for registering the filling potential of a waste container of microplate washing devices

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 holding device for at least one object carrier, the object carrier being suitable to receive one or more organic and/or inorganic samples and comprising materials such as glass, plastic, silicon, pyrolytic graphite, and/or metal, this holding device being configured to be gripped by grippers of a robot. The holding device comprising two essentially parallel lengthwise walls and two essentially parallel transverse walls which extend substantially at right angles from the lengthwise walls. Holding devices according to preferred embodiments are constructed in a frame shape, wherein the lengthwise and transverse walls define a frame surrounding at least one opening which completely transverses the device. Holding devices according to further embodiments are constructed a plate shape, in that the region between the lengthwise walls and transverse walls is implemented as a carrying surface. All embodiments comprising gripping surfaces on the external surface profile of the lengthwise and transverse walls.

Holding device

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.

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Hallein, Austria

Wolfgang Streit