The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1998
Marcus J Horn, Redwood Shores, CA (US);
Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB, Uppsala, SE;
Abstract
This invention is directed to a cassette chemical immobilization and treatment system and method for enabling the performance of various complex chemistries with minimal human intervention, near-zero dead volume, and flow-through protocols pursuant to a predetermined instruction set encoded on a multiple-address chemical treatment cassette assembly. The cassette assembly having a high-pressure interface capability to permit direct insertion of the mini-column into a high-pressure solvent line for use as a support column for HPLC analysis. A sample loader loads analyte samples either singly or simultaneously into the multiple, addressable mini-columns without the need to load the sample funnel/column assembly into a separate reaction chamber. The invention system reads the machine readable instruction code and performs chemistries on the analyte, including mixing solvents, reactants and buffers; detaching and shuttling the analyte back and forth performing complex chemistries either on or off-column; solvation of powdered or lyophillized reagents; and performing in-line, on-board analysis. These protocols are performed automatically pursuant to instructions contained on a bar code, without having to remove the cassette or interface from the CTS or otherwise require human intervention. The same chemistries may be performed on all sample mini-column addresses, or a separate completely independent set of protocols may be defined for each address, or for each block of addresses pursuant to the instructions contained in the machine readable code on the cassette.