Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a small volume pipettor, including: a plurality of pistons; a plurality of liquid delivery needles; motive device to cause one of the pistons to move axially within one of the needles to cause a liquid to be selectively drawn into and discharged from the needle; sealing apparatus disposed around the pistons to effect sealing of upper ends of the needles; assembly apparatus in which the needles and the sealing apparatus are disposed; and apparatus to permit the assembly apparatus to be removed from the pipettor as a one-piece unit. Further provided are novel apparatus to seal upper ends of the needles around the pistons.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a bioassay plate washer, including: a housing; a first wash assembly disposed in the housing; the first wash assembly including wash and aspirate manifolds having defined therein, respectively, a wash liquid chamber and a vacuum chamber; a plurality of wash needles for communication between the wash liquid chamber and a first point below the first wash assembly; a plurality of aspirate needles for communication between the vacuum chamber and a second point below the first point; and each one of the plurality of aspirate needles being disposed internally of each one of the wash needles.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading onto a pipettor a plurality of micropipette tips, the pipettor having a plurality of tip pins depending from a head portion, the tips each having an upper, hollow, tapered, generally cylindrical barrel portion and lower, hollow, generally cylindrical aspirating tip portion, both lying along a common vertical axis and being cojoined at a horizontal shoulder, and the tips being frictionally held in a tip package, the apparatus comprising: a horizontal pusher plate to simultaneously engage the shoulder on each of the tips and to simultaneously raise the tips for insertion of the tip pins therein.

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus, including: a microplate having defined therein a plurality of vertical wells; and a layer of film disposed over the vertical wells to prevent the evaporation of liquid therefrom, the layer of film being penetrable by a pipette tip to access one of the vertical wells to add liquid to or withdraw liquid from the vertical well, the layer of film being resealable to reseal the area of penetration of the pipette tip when the pipette tip is withdrawn, in order to prevent evaporation of liquid from the vertical well.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a multiple sample transfer device which includes a plurality of hollow pistons disposed in a like number of cylindrical channels and connected to a moving plate to permit simultaneous movement of the pistons. The pistons are connected to the moving plate by retaining rings adjacent the plate and above and below the plate such that the pistons are fixed to the plate in the direction of plate movement, but relatively free to move in a direction orthogonal to the direction of plate movement.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a cell harvester system, and method for operating the same, which furnishes a flow of wash solution into each of, for example, the 96 wells of a microplate. The contents of each well are aspirated to a specific area on a filter mat and the effluent is directed to one of two traps. Separate areas of the filter mat unique to each well are isolated by means of opposing O-rings. Due to the proximity of the sample wells (9 mm on center) there is the possibility of an overflow from one well contaminating adjacent wells. To prevent that occurrence, an aspirated overflow ring space is provided around each well. A microprocessor controlled system is used to sequence the various functions. To provide flexibility of control, the 96-well plate is treated as 8 separate 12-well systems (rows). Each row of 12 wells has its own overflow valve, wash valve, and aspirate valve.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a multiple sample transfer device which includes a plurality of hollow pistons disposed in a like number of cylindrical channels and connected to a moving plate to permit simultaneous movement of the pistons. At the lower end of each channel is a removable pipette tip. An apparatus is provided to bring a multiwell sample tray into operating engagement with the pipette tips. Flexible tubes are attached between the upper ends of the hollow pistons and a liquid reservoir. Clamping devices are provided to permit the selective pinching or opening of the tubes. When the tubes are pinched, the pistons can be used in either liquid-back-filled or air displacement modes to aspirate and dispense liquids from and to the sample tray. When the tubes are selectively sequentially pinched or open, aspiration and dispensing can be controlled by the timing of the pinching and the provision of vacuum or pressure in the liquid reservoir.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a bioassay incubator for use with a robotic arm, the incubator including: a housing; a first plurality of linearly spaced apart shelves disposed within the housing, the shelves dimensioned to support thereon bioassay trays; a robotic access opening defined in the housing and extending along the first plurality of shelves, through which robotic access opening the first plurality of shelves may be accessed by a robotic arm to place on, or to remove from, the bioassay trays; sealing apparatus disposed over and substantially sealing the robotic access opening; and the sealing apparatus having defined therethrough a robotic access window, the robotic access window being positionable adjacent a selected one of the first plurality of shelves and being minimally dimensioned to permit the robotic arm to assess the selected one of the shelves therethrough, while the sealing apparatus otherwise substantially seals the robotic access opening to minimize disturbance of the interior environment o

Abstract: A method and apparatus for practicing solid phase extraction of samples for analysis where the method comprises the steps of providing a cassette having a plurality of tubes, each containing an absorbent substrate and having an upper and a lower opening; applying a preconditioning liquid reagent to each tube of the cassette through the upper opening to render the substrate therein hydrophilic and drawing the liquid through the substrate until the liquid is at a predetermined height about the substrate; applying a liquid sample to be analyzed to each of the tubes of the cassette and drawing the sample through the substrate until the liquid is at a predetermined height in the tube with respect to the substrate; applying an eluate to each tube of the cassette to remove an eluent therefrom; and collecting the eluents from the cassette tubes. The apparatus automates this process and provides accurate and rapid separation of compounds in the sample.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a microplate laboratory tray including a frame with a plurality of open top wells disposed in the frame, each of the wells having a bottom attached to four orthogonally joined generally vertical walls, and each pair of adjacent wells being separated by a single common wall. To promote mixing and oxygen transfer, one or more baffles may be disposed on one or more walls.

Abstract: A rehydrator which dispenses precise amounts of liquid to each row of wells in a titration tray where the dispensing of the liquid is performed through valving means in timed relation to indexing of the platform to present a row of wells beneath the dispensing orifices. The indexing of the tray and the valving means are accomplished by the same drive means to obtain the timed relation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for streaking a sample on agar plates where the sample is dispensed from a flexible tube which is oscillated while the plate is rotated. The plates are stored in a refrigerated compartment and selectively presented to a transfer position where they are transferred to a first position to have a lid removed, to a second position to be streaked, and third position to be re-lidded and moved to a classification stack for removal to an incubator.

Abstract: A remote lighting control for box mounted lamps which permits one or more wall switch controlled lamps to be operated on a selected time basis by creating a circuit across the normally opened wall mounted switches.