Abstract: In a sample analyzing apparatus, an injector assembly injects a reagent onto a sample, and luminescent light from the sample is transmitted to a detector. The assembly may be movable toward and away from the sample. The assembly may include one or more needles that communicate with one or more reservoirs supplying reagent or other liquids. The assembly may include a light guide for communicating with the detector. A cartridge may be provided in which the assembly, one or more reservoirs, and one or more pumps are disposed. The cartridge and/or the apparatus may be configured for enabling rinsing or priming to be done outside the apparatus. The cartridge and/or the apparatus may include one or more types of sensors configured for detecting, for example, the presence of liquid or bubbles in one or more locations of the apparatus and/or the cartridge.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of processing a microscopy image are provided. A microscopy image is received, and a configuration for an image section that includes a portion of the microscopy image is determined. Multiple image sections are respectively assigned to multiple processing units, and the processing units respectively process the image sections in parallel. One or more objects are determined to be respectively present in the image sections, and the objects present in the image sections are measured to obtain object data associated with the objects.

Abstract: A system for performing spectrofluorometry of a fluorophore sample is provided. The system includes an input module that receives user input corresponding to spectrofluorometer settings. A control module transmits control signals for controlling the spectrofluorometer during respective wavelength scans of a fluorophore sample and a blank sample. The control signals provide for automatic execution of the wavelength scans over an excitation wavelength range and an emission wavelength range. A signal-to-background determination module automatically determines multiple signal-to-background ratios based on fluorescence measurements of the fluorophore sample and the blank sample received from the spectrofluorometer. A signal-to-background analysis module automatically determines the maximum signal-to-background ratio from the multiple signal-to-background ratios.

Abstract: A system for performing a data analysis is provided. The system includes a curve fit module that determines a curve fit function for a data set. A parameter dependence determination module determines a dependence value for a parameter of the curve fit function. A parameter independence determination module determines an independence value for the parameter of the curve fit function based on the dependence value for the parameter. A graphical indicator generation module generates a graphical indicator for the parameter. The graphical indicator corresponds to the independence value for the parameter.

Abstract: Multi-well plates having contoured well designs allow multi-stage high throughput parallel assaying of ion channels or ion transporters. A well of a multi-well plate has a bottom region that is sized and shaped to simultaneous accommodate a sensing electrode and a pipette for delivering, e.g., test compounds, wash fluid, and optionally ligands. Such multi-well plates may be coupled with an instrument having a pipette head and an electrode plate. Such arrangement facilitates fluidic contact between cells and fluids provided via a pipette. It also facilitates washing of wells with buffers or other wash solutions to allow serial exposure of test cells to various reagents or other stimuli. Generally, the design allows control and test experiments to be performed on the same cell (or cells) in a single well.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus (200) includes a chassis (102), an actuator (104) that moves along a first axis (106, 110) with respect to the chassis, and a scanning head, e.g., an optical scanning head (108), that is mechanically coupled to the actuator and that moves along a second axis that is the same as or substantially parallel to the first axis. Methods of controlling vibration in a scanning apparatus include moving the actuator along the first axis and moving the scanning head along the second axis such that the actuator functions as a counterbalance weight for the moving scanning head, thereby reducing vibration in the scanning apparatus by decoupling translation of the actuator from the chassis.

Abstract: A sample slide stage includes at least four fixed members that are arranged at, or about at, a focal plane of the slide stage, and are configured to receive a slide; and a plurality of compression members that apply a controlled force to compress a slide towards the fixed members at the focal plane, whereby a surface of a non-planar slide in the sample stage is deformed towards the focal plane. Methods of deforming non-planar slides towards a focal plane include inserting a non-planar slide into a sample slide stage that has at least four fixed members arranged at or about at a focal plane; and applying a controlled force to compress the non-planar slide to the fixed members at the focal plane, whereby a surface of the non-planar slide is deformed towards the focal plane.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus includes a sample stage that faces an optical scanning head or stage at a scanning plane; a first actuator that translates the sample stage or the optical stage along a first axis that is substantially parallel to the scanning plane; a sensor that senses the deviation from the first axis; and a controller coupled to the first actuator, the sensor, and the optical stage. The controller is programmed to operate the first actuator and the optical stage to acquire a scan of a sample at the sample stage; and modify the scan to compensate for a deviation from the first axis in translation of the sample stage or the optical stage along the first axis by the first actuator. Also included are methods of modifying scans to compensate for translation deviations.

Abstract: An apparatus including an LED excitation source and module useful for full plate imaging fluorescence instruments as well as methods for calibrating such instruments. The apparatus may include a light source operative to provide simultaneous illumination of a first wavelength selected to a plurality of samples to excite the fluorescent emission of light of a second wavelength by said plurality of samples wherein the light source is an LED array; and an optical sensor, responsive to light at said second wavelength.

Abstract: Picogram amounts of DNA can be detected in a sample by the use of high-affinity, single-stranded DNA binding proteins. The assay is applicable not only to pure DNA samples but also to samples containing significant amounts of protein.