Abstract: Material transfer/interrogation devices (e.g. liquid handling workstations) have been designed in the past for transferring material from a source to a destination location or for interrogating a material at a location, where the locations remain fixed. The invention provides methods and apparatuses for transferring or interrogating materials by one or more carrier devices to one or more receiving devices, where the carrier and receiving devices move independently and simultaneously on multiple axes. In some embodiments, one or more of the carrier and receiving devices can move along an X, Z, Y, and Theta axis, which allows the source and destination locations to rotate and translate relative to each other. Due to this rotation and translation, containers can be positioned to minimize the distance traveled between a pick location from the source and a place location on the destination, greatly increasing the speed at which material transfer can occur.

Abstract: Centrifuges have been designed in the past for centrifuging multi-welled containers, but they are limited in centripetal acceleration or have a large footprint. The invention provides a centrifuge with a high centripetal acceleration and imbalance tolerance while maintaining a small footprint and being able to integrate with laboratory automation equipment. Methods and apparatuses for centrifugation include a rotor assembly positioned within a shield assembly suspended in a centrifuge. The rotor assembly is operably connected to the motor for rotating payloads (e.g., multi-welled containers) around an axis. The shield assembly is positioned such that the center of mass is aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotor assembly and the plane containing the rotational imbalance force vector. This alignment allows rotation of the container with an acceleration of at least 2000 g (or at least 3000 g, 4000 g, 5000 g, etc.).

Abstract: Material transfer/interrogation devices (e.g. liquid handling workstations) have been designed in the past for transferring material from a source to a destination location or for interrogating a material at a location, where the locations remain fixed. The invention provides methods and apparatuses for transferring or interrogating materials by one or more carrier devices to one or more receiving devices, where the carrier and receiving devices move independently and simultaneously on multiple axes. In some embodiments, one or more of the carrier and receiving devices can move along an X, Z, Y, and Theta axis, which allows the source and destination locations to rotate and translate relative to each other. Due to this rotation and translation, containers can be positioned to minimize the distance traveled between a pick location from the source and a place location on the destination, greatly increasing the speed at which material transfer can occur.

Abstract: An incubator for storing micro-plates or micro-tubes comprises a handling robot positioned between shelves or drawers containing micro-titer plates or other containers useful for biological based reactions. The advantages of this configuration are the ultimate compactness of the system and increased speed or reliability achieved with more than one robot being able to access the same plate or tube. Alternative embodiments standardize the spacing and configuration of a robot track and a shelf track such that a shelf and a robot are interchangeable in a track.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retrieval unit for a microarray processing device to transport a workpiece such as a microscope slide before or after processing operations by the microarray processing device. The retrieval unit may include a storage unit and a lifter unit. The storage unit has a storage frame, a storage rack and a first motor. The storage rack is adapted to store microscope slides. The storage rack is mounted to the storage frame and capable of sliding in a first plane by the first motor. The lifter unit has a loader frame, a loader arm and a second motor. The loader arm is mounted to the loader frame and capable of sliding in a second plane by the second motor. The loader arm is capable of accessing a selected microscope slide from the storage rack. The loader arm uses a vacuum chuck to retain the microscope slide on the loader arm. The loader arm may also have a motor to enable it to extend the vacuum chuck below the bottom surface of a microscope slide.

Abstract: A pipette station is described for use in the field of sample analysis. The pipette station increases the rate and ease with which a liquid may be manipulated into and out of sample carriers such as microwell plates. The pipette station includes shafts in the X, Y, and Z direction which possess ball screws which are integrated with motor shafts thus improving accuracy and eliminating the need for a coupling apparatus thereby reducing the space required for the pipette station. The pipette station may be interfaced with an automated laboratory system.