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:
Sep. 29, 2009
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2004
Rhett L. Affleck, Poway, CA (US);
Mike Bodnar, San Diego, CA (US);
Robert K. Levin, San Diego, CA (US);
John E. Lillig, Ramona, CA (US);
Robert K. Neeper, Lakeside, CA (US);
Rhett L. Affleck, Poway, CA (US);
Mike Bodnar, San Diego, CA (US);
Robert K. Levin, San Diego, CA (US);
John E. Lillig, Ramona, CA (US);
Robert K. Neeper, Lakeside, CA (US);
Nexus Biosystems, Inc., Poway, CA (US);
Abstract
An automated biological sample analysis system and method for use in incubating and analyzing multiple samples for protein crystallization. A temperature controlled cabinet houses sample storage, sample transport, and sample imaging systems. The operation of the system is automated and can be controlled by software, which can be reconfigured remotely. An array of storage shelves includes multiple shelf columns arranged around a core. Multiple banks of removable shelves arranged as magazines are accessed through a door on the cabinet. Each shelf stores a multi-well plate and different sizes can be stored in different shelves. The core houses a sample transport system that includes a multi-axis robot that rotates about a vertical axis to access the shelves in the shelf array. The transport system retrieves and replaces the multi-well plates in the shelves and can move plates from the shelves to an imaging system where each sample can be automatically imaged.