Abstract: An automated centrifuge apparatus for conducting a cell preparation procedure is provided. A rotor assembly supports centrifuge tubes, which are installable at respective tube positions. The tube positions are indexable to an index location. A sensing module monitors the index location during a set of status checks, which relate to the centrifuge tubes. Logic signals generated by the sensing module are used to automatically determine whether the status checks are satisfied.

Abstract: A device for separating materials of different densities is provided. A cup body has an internal cavity configured to hold media. An inner wall defines a central body region having an upper and lower end. The upper end is wider than the lower end. An interior shoulder circumscribes the upper end of the central body region. The interior shoulder defines a neck region above the central body region and a shoulder trap below the neck region. The shoulder trap circumscribes the upper end of the central body region and is wider than the neck region. When the device is spun about a central axis, the media travels upward along the inner wall toward the shoulder trap. Relatively more dense material in the media is collected in the shoulder trap, and relatively less dense material is expelled from the device through an opening above the neck region.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically conditioning a patch plate and a plenum of an electrophysiology measurement system is provided. An arm is linearly movable between a non-operative position and an operative position. An end effector mounted to one side of the arm is configured to condition the patch plate. Another end effector mounted to an opposite side of the arm is configured to condition the plenum. A linear actuator is coupled to the arm and is configured to drive movement of the arm between the operative position and the non-operative position. When the arm is positioned in the operative position, the arm is situated between the patch plate and the plenum.

Abstract: System, including methods and apparatus, for sample analysis using at least one array of spotlights to illuminate a microplate with excitation light for photoluminescence emission.

Abstract: A system and method of determining a focal position for an objective positioned at a measurement location of a sample holder in a microscopy imaging system are provided. The objective is moved to a position relative to the sample holder that corresponds to a distance between the objective and the sample holder. The sample holder has a conditioned upper surface. A focusing light beam is projected onto the sample holder when the objective is located at the position, and the objective focuses the focusing light beam on the sample holder. A reflected light beam resulting from reflection of the focusing light beam off the conditioned upper surface is observed. The focal position for the objective is determined based on the reflected light beam such that the objective produces an in focus image of a microscopy sample when the objective is located at the focal position.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of processing a selected image using multiple processing operations is provided. An image analysis sequence having multiple processing steps is constructed. The image analysis sequence is constructed in response to receipt of multiple processing operation selections. Individual processing steps in the image analysis sequence are associated with a processing operation that is indicated in a corresponding processing operation selection. The processing steps are arranged in response to receipt of arrangement information that relates to a selective arrangement of the processing steps. At least one of the processing steps in the image analysis sequence is configured such that the processing operation associated with the processing step processes a specified input image to generate an output image when the processing step is performed. A display signal is generated for display of the output image at a display device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of imaging an assay sample having a set of individual samples using a camera is provided. A set of image frames is received. The set of image frames corresponds to an image stream of the assay obtained by the camera. A set of measurement results is identified. Individual measurement results in the set of measurement results are respectively associated with individual image frames in the set of image frames. A subset of measurement results is selected based, at least in part, on an exposure time. Individual measurement results in the subset of measurement results are combined to obtain an integrated measurement result.

Abstract: Assays for detecting the presence and activity of cell-signaling components. These assays include luminescence polarization assays for detecting cell-signaling nucleotides and modulators of receptors and enzymes related to the generation and activity of such nucleotides.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for implementing an integrated data visualization interface for multi-dimensional microscopy image and measurement data are disclosed. The integrated data visualization interface utilizes the known dimensional relational relationships between the images to automatically provide synchronized and coordinated visualization and manipulations across multiple related images and measurement data in multiple dataset viewer components (e.g., image grids, browsable image strips, tables, and graphs). Other features of the dataset viewer components are also disclosed.

Abstract: A confocal microscope, which comprises a light source for producing excitation light including a plurality of different spectral components; an optical device for providing the excitation light as a spectrally dispersed beam and outputting the different spectral components as a number of elongated beams an object holder for holding an object; an objective for focusing the elongated beams of light on the object as parallel, spaced-apart lines of excitation light corresponding to the different spectral components; and a detector for simultaneously detecting emission light produced by parallel lines emitted by the object due to its illumination by spaced apart parallel lines of the excitation light.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of imaging an assay sample having a set of individual samples using a camera is provided. A set of image frames is received. The set of image frames corresponds to an image stream of the assay obtained by the camera. A set of measurement results is identified. Individual measurement results in the set of measurement results are respectively associated with individual image frames in the set of image frames. A subset of measurement results is selected based, at least in part, on an exposure time. Individual measurement results in the subset of measurement results are combined to obtain an integrated measurement result.

Abstract: A cartridge and cartridge system for use in an apparatus for analyzing a sample are provided. The system has a plurality of cartridges for different applications for a multimode instrument. The cartridges are removably engaged with a cartridge support in a “plug-in” format such that one cartridge may be removed from the apparatus and another cartridge may be easily installed. The cartridge support includes a plurality of cartridge positions that receive cartridges concurrently. One of the cartridges is a wavelength-tunable cartridge in which different light sources, excitation filters, and/or emission filters may be selected. Tuning is further accomplished by tilting the excitation or emission filters at desired angles relative to a beam of exciting light or emitted light.

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 system for determining a baseline measurement for a biological curve is provided. A derivation module determines a derivative response curve based on the biological response curve. A peak identification module searches the derivate response curve to identify a peak in the biological response curve. A leading baseline identification module searches the derivative response curve to identify a starting position of the peak and identifies a leading baseline in the biological response curve. The leading baseline is identified based at least in part on the starting position of the peak. A baseline determination module determines a baseline measurement for the biological response curve based at least in part on the leading baseline associated with the peak.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a target in a sample, the target being capable of generating an emitted light in response to an excitation light. In an example system, an excitation light source generates the excitation light along an excitation optical path. An attenuation filter arrangement selectively adds an attenuation filter to the excitation optical path. The attenuation filter attenuates the excitation light by a corresponding attenuation factor. The excitation light exits the attenuation filter arrangement along the excitation optical path to illuminate the sample. A light energy detector receives the emitted light generated in response to the excitation light, and outputs a measured signal level corresponding to an emitted light level. If the light energy detector indicates an overflow, signal measurement is repeated with attenuation filters of increasing attenuation factors until the measured signal level does not overflow.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of processing a selected image using multiple processing operations is provided. An image analysis sequence having multiple processing steps is constructed. The image analysis sequence is constructed in response to receipt of multiple processing operation selections. Individual processing steps in the image analysis sequence are associated with a processing operation that is indicated in a corresponding processing operation selection. The processing steps are arranged in response to receipt of arrangement information that relates to a selective arrangement of the processing steps. At least one of the processing steps in the image analysis sequence is configured such that the processing operation associated with the processing step processes a specified input image to generate an output image when the processing step is performed. A display signal is generated for display of the output image at a display device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling command voltages applied to electrodes during an electrophysiology measurement procedure using a high-throughput measurement system is provided. An initial command voltage is applied to the electrodes to obtain baseline currents respectively associated with the electrodes. A common offset voltage is determined based on the baseline currents, and an adjusted command voltage is determined based on the initial command voltage and the common offset voltage. The adjusted command voltage is applied to at least one of the electrodes to obtain an adjusted current measured by the electrode. A local offset voltage for the electrode is determined based on the adjusted current measured by the electrode. A subsequent command voltage applied to the electrode incorporates the common offset voltage and the local offset voltage.

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 simultaneously accommodate a sensing electrode and a pipette for delivering test compounds, wash fluid, and optionally ligands. The multi-well plates when coupled with an instrument having a pipette head and an electrode plate facilitates fluidic contact between cells and fluids delivered via a pipette for washing of wells with buffers or other wash solutions for serial exposure of test cells to various reagents or other stimuli. The control and test experiments are performed on the same cell (or cells) in a single well.

Abstract: A presentation system for a low-volume solution sample for use in an analysis system is provided. An adapter positions aliquots of the low-volume sample solution for measurement by the analysis system. The adapter includes a recess formed in an upper surface of the adapter for removable receipt of a sample holder that holds the aliquots of the low-volume sample solution. The sample holder is seated in the recess when the sample holder is inserted into the recess. The shape of the recess substantially conforms to at least a portion of the shape of the sample holder such that the recess maintains the sample holder in place during measurement of the aliquots. The recess also has a depth sufficient to receive the sample holder and a cover plate when the sample holder and the cover plate are inserted into the recess.

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.