Abstract: A liquid-handling instrument has a worksurface with registration for modular stations to support containers of liquid, pipette apparatus with a pipette tip coupled to a sensing circuit, a robotic translation system for moving the pipette tip, and a control system with an iconic user interface for programming and editing. A gauge block registered on the worksurface provides for calibration using the sensing tip, and register cavities on the worksurface provide for modular stations. There is a wash station fop the pipette tip on the worksurface. An automated laboratory based on the liquid-handling system has heating and cooling and a sealable incubation station as well as a magnetic separation station. Methods are disclosed using the apparatus to convey droplets of liquid, to aspirate with minimum tip contamination, to mix liquids in containers, and to validate the worksurface.

Abstract: A real-time, automated, nucleic acid sequencing apparatus that offers high speed, definitive sequencing on many samples at the same time. The apparatus permits more than one clone to be sequenced at a time, thus vastly decreasing the time required to sequence longer fragments and reducing sequencing costs accordingly. The apparatus detects electromagnetic radiation from a plurality of lanes in an electrophoresis system wherein the plurality of lanes are arranged in a planar array. The apparatus includes an optical system for detecting the radiation at a plurality of wavelengths and is made up of a collection element, a filter for selectively transmitting the plurality of wavelengths received from the collection element, and a detection system for measuring intensity of the radiation received from the filter means.

Abstract: A ventilator which accommodates to a patient's efforts in breathing and to his change in respiratory requirements is provided by a system with a novel control law. The novel control law determines a target ideal pressure-volume wave-form which characterizes the patient's respiratory requirements; this waveform is constantly modified and corrected during the course of ventilator operation to enable the patient to breathe with minimum ventilation opposition, or fighting.

Abstract: An improved sweep circuit for an oscilloscope or the like has an adjustably delayed sweep which is time shared to display separate recurring events of interest alternately to provide an apparently simultaneous display of the events. The adjustable delay between sweeps may be directly indicated as a time interval between sweeps.