Abstract: A data acquisition system and a method of operating the data acquisition system are disclosed. A zero crossing detector generates a mains cycle start signal in accordance with a power line frequency of a mains power source. An analog-to-digital converter samples a signal provided by a test probe and generates data samples at a sampling rate. A noise replica generator generates noise replicas from the data samples at a replica generation rate, and noise estimates from the noise replicas at the sampling rate, wherein the noise replica generation rate is less than the sampling frequency. A noise removal module removes each noise estimate from a corresponding data sample.

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: 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 system is provided for performing filter-based and monochromator-based measurements. The system includes a light source and a plurality of detectors. An excitation monochromator outputs a selected wavelength component of the excitation light. Emitted light from a sample follows a selected emission optical path. An emission monochromator outputs a selected wavelength component of the emitted light when part of the selected path. An interface cartridge includes emission light ports positioned to direct the emitted light from the sample along a corresponding optical path. The interface cartridge aligns a selected optical path with the main measurement optical axis. A movable sliding switch mechanism provides optical channels corresponding to positions on the sliding switch mechanism to complete a selected emission optical path. The position on the sliding switch mechanism is selected by moving the sliding switch mechanism to align the optical channel for the position with the main measurement optical axis.

Abstract: A planar patch clamp device includes a substrate comprising a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposing the first planar surface, and an inside surface defining an aperture extending from the first planar surface to the second planar surface; and an adhesion layer conformally disposed on the substrate including on the inside surface, wherein the adhesion layer defines a shape of the aperture, and the aperture is smooth and free of sharp corners. The substrate may be composed of silicon or a silicon-inclusive compound, and the adhesion layer may be composed of a glass material having a low-temperature reflow property. The device may be annealed to reflow the adhesion layer, thereby providing the aperture with smooth surfaces.

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: 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: 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 of the apparatus 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 may be a luminescence cartridge that includes an integrated detector that is movable toward and away from a sample carrier of the apparatus, and thus toward and away from a sample located at the sample carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a light intensity. An example photodetector measurement circuit comprises a photodetector that receives a light and generates a photodetector current indicative of the light intensity. The measurement circuit includes a first integrator coupled along a first signal path to the photodetector to generate a first voltage signal at a first integrator output indicative of an integral of the photodetector current level. A second integrator is configured to generate a second voltage signal at a second integrator output indicative of an integral of the photodetector current level. A differential amplifier receives the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal and generates a third output signal at a differential amplifier output indicative of a difference between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal. The differential amplifier outputs the third voltage signal to an analog-to-digital conversion function (“ADC function”) input.

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: 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 method and apparatus for removing noise from a bioelectrical signal are provided. A main analog signal from a bioelectrical test probe and a gating signal are received. A main data stream associated with the main analog signal from the bioelectrical test probe is developed. An adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) unit operates to develop an output data stream by removing noise components from the main data stream in accordance with the reference data stream. If the gating signal indicates that the main analog signal was acquired during a period of bioelectrical activity then the ANC unit operates in a fixed mode, and if the gating signal indicates that the main analog signal was acquired during a period without bioelectrical activity then ANC unit operates in an adaptive mode.

Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a method of identifying a cell or cell colony which produces a polypeptide of interest, the method comprising exposing one or more cells to a marker compound which associates with a reference polypeptide, wherein production of the polypeptide of interest by the cells is linked to production of the reference polypeptide, and detecting association of the marker compound with the one or more cells, thereby identifying a cell or cell colony which produces the polypeptide of interest.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for determining selected properties of a microplate comprising a plurality of sample wells. An example method includes the steps of performing a focusing function to determine a well surface z-position for a current x-y position based on an intensity indicative of a best focus of the well surface. The focusing function is performed again to determine a plate bottom z-position for the current x-y position based on an intensity indicative of a best focus of the plate bottom. The well surface z-position and the plate bottom z-position corresponding to each of the plurality of x-y positions are determined by repeating the steps of positioning the objective lens, performing the focusing function to determine the well surface z-position, and performing the focusing function for the plate bottom z-position.

Abstract: A system is provided for performing filter-based and monochromator-based measurements. The system includes a light source and a plurality of detectors. An excitation monochromator outputs a selected wavelength component of the excitation light. Emitted light from a sample follows a selected emission optical path. An emission monochromator outputs a selected wavelength component of the emitted light when part of the selected path. An interface cartridge includes emission light ports positioned to direct the emitted light from the sample along a corresponding optical path. The interface cartridge aligns a selected optical path with the main measurement optical axis. A movable sliding switch mechanism provides optical channels corresponding to positions on the sliding switch mechanism to complete a selected emission optical path. The position on the sliding switch mechanism is selected by moving the sliding switch mechanism to align the optical channel for the position with the main measurement optical axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a light intensity. An example photodetector measurement circuit comprises a photodetector that receives a light and generates a photodetector current indicative of the light intensity. The measurement circuit includes a first integrator coupled along a first signal path to the photodetector to generate a first voltage signal at a first integrator output indicative of an integral of the photodetector current level. A second integrator is configured to generate a second voltage signal at a second integrator output indicative of an integral of the photodetector current level. A differential amplifier receives the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal and generates a third output signal at a differential amplifier output indicative of a difference between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal. The differential amplifier outputs the third voltage signal to an analog-to-digital conversion function (“ADC function”) input.

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 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 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.