Abstract: Animal cell colonies are picked up automatically by an apparatus having a picking head with a plurality of hollow pins and an integrated imager for capturing an image of adherent or non-adherent animal cell colonies held in liquid or semi-solid medium. Image processing identifies the locations of the animal cell colonies to be picked. Picking an animal cell colony is performed by aligning each of the hollow pins in turn with a target animal cell colony location, introducing the hollow pin into the medium, and aspirating the animal cell colony into the hollow pin. In the case of an adherent colony, the distal end of the pin is forced into oscillation to detach the animal cell colony prior to aspiration. The animal cell colony is dispensed into a well plate by increasing pressure in the fluid conduit.

Abstract: Animal cell colonies are picked up automatically by an apparatus having a picking head with a plurality of hollow pins and an integrated imager for capturing an image of adherent or non-adherent animal cell colonies held in liquid or semi-solid medium. Image processing identifies the locations of the animal cell colonies to be picked. Picking an animal cell colony is performed by aligning each of the hollow pins in turn with a target animal cell colony location, introducing the hollow pin into the medium, and aspirating the animal cell colony into the hollow pin. In the case of an adherent colony, the distal end of the pin is forced into oscillation to detach the animal cell colony prior to aspiration. The animal cell colony is dispensed into a well plate by increasing pressure in the fluid conduit.

Abstract: Animal cell colonies are picked up automatically by an apparatus having a picking head with a plurality of hollow pins and an integrated imager for capturing an image of adherent or non-adherent animal cell colonies held in liquid or semi-solid medium. Image processing identifies the locations of the animal cell colonies to be picked. Picking an animal cell colony is performed by aligning each of the hollow pins in turn with a target animal cell colony location, introducing the hollow pin into the medium, and aspirating the animal cell colony into the hollow pin. In the case of an adherent colony, the distal end of the pin is forced into oscillation to detach the animal cell colony prior to aspiration. The animal cell colony is dispensed into a well plate by increasing pressure in the fluid conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automated picking of animal cell colonies is described. A picking head comprising a plurality of hollow pins is provided. The apparatus has an integrated imager for capturing an image of adherent or non-adherent animal cell colonies held in liquid or semi-solid medium. Image processing identifies the locations of the animal cell colonies to be picked. Picking an animal cell colony is performed by aligning each of the hollow pins in turn with a target animal cell colony location, introducing the hollow pin into the medium, and aspirating the animal cell colony into the hollow pin. In the case of an adherent colony, the distal end of the pin is forced into oscillation to detach the animal cell colony prior to aspiration. The animal cell colony is dispensed into a well plate by increasing pressure in the fluid conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automated picking of animal cell colonies. A picking head comprising a plurality of hollow pins is provided. The apparatus has an integrated imager for capturing an image of adherent or non-adherent animal cell colonies held in liquid or semi-solid medium. Image processing identifies the locations of the animal cell colonies to be picked. Picking an animal cell colony is performed by aligning each of the hollow pins in turn with a target animal cell colony location, introducing the hollow pin into the medium, and aspirating the animal cell colony into the hollow pin. In the case of an adherent colony, the distal end of the pin is forced into oscillation to detach the animal cell colony prior to aspiration. The animal cell colony is dispensed into a well plate by increasing pressure in the fluid conduit.

Abstract: A calibration method for a flow cytometer with a multichannel detector module. During calibration, the fluorescence intensity data values for the different detector channels are used to calculate normalization factors needed to adjust subsequent data collected by each of the channels. By using a multichannel detector module, the results from the different flow cells can be reliably compared, so that multiple stages of flow cells can be arranged in series along a common flow path, for example to measure the same sample at defined time intervals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automated picking of animal cell colonies. A picking head comprising a plurality of hollow pins is provided. The apparatus has an integrated imager for capturing an image of adherent or non-adherent animal cell colonies held in liquid or semi-solid medium. Image processing identifies the locations of the animal cell colonies to be picked. Picking an animal cell colony is performed by aligning each of the hollow pins in turn with a target animal cell colony location, introducing the hollow pin into the medium, and aspirating the animal cell colony into the hollow pin. In the case of an adherent colony, the distal end of the pin is forced into oscillation to detach the animal cell colony prior to aspiration. The animal cell colony is dispensed into a well plate by increasing pressure in the fluid conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a holder for biological sample containers such as well plates. The holder comprises a flat vacuum bed surrounded by a seal. A container is placed within the seal and a vacuum is applied, pressing and flattening the lower surface of the sample container against the flat vacuum bed. Samples in all portions of the container may then be imaged without the need to refocus on each portion of the container. For imaging, a sample in a well can be illuminated by a beam of light arranged so that a part or all of the sample is illuminated by direct rays that have not passed through the well plate. The beam is redirected to other parts of the well if a single illumination does not cover the whole well, so that the sample to be imaged using a series of partial images.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a holder for biological sample containers such as well plates. The holder comprises a flat vacuum bed surrounded by a seal. A container is placed within the seal and a vacuum is applied, pressing and flattening the lower surface of the sample container against the flat vacuum bed. Samples in all portions of the container may then be imaged without the need to refocus on each portion of the container. For imaging, a sample in a well can be illuminated by a beam of light arranged so that a part or all of the sample is illuminated by direct rays that have not passed through the well plate. The beam is redirected to other parts of the well if a single illumination does not cover the whole well, so that the sample to be imaged using a series of partial images.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a holder for biological sample containers such as well plates. The holder comprises a flat vacuum bed surrounded by a seal. A container is placed within the seal and a vacuum is applied, pressing and flattening the lower surface of the sample container against the flat vacuum bed. Samples in all portions of the container may then be imaged without the need to refocus on each portion of the container. For imaging, a sample in a well can be illuminated by a beam of light arranged so that a part or all of the sample is illuminated by direct rays that have not passed through the well plate. The beam is redirected to other parts of the well if a single illumination does not cover the whole well, so that the sample to be imaged using a series of partial images.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically analyzing samples in a biological sample container containing samples arranged at different locations on the base of the container. An optical acquisition device is provided comprising a detector and an objective. The position of the upper and lower surfaces of the base at each of the sample locations is determined by a confocal polychromatic displacement sensor. Light is collected from each of the sample locations by adjusting the focal plane to be coincident with, or vertically offset from, the upper surface of the base, as determined from the displacement sensor. This allows for rapid scanning of large numbers of samples in a multi-well plate or other biological sample containers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automated picking of animal cell colonies. A picking head comprising a plurality of hollow pins is provided. The apparatus has an integrated imager for capturing an image of adherent or non-adherent animal cell colonies held in liquid or semi-solid medium. Image processing identifies the locations of the animal cell colonies to be picked. Picking an animal cell colony is performed by aligning each of the hollow pins in turn with a target animal cell colony location, introducing the hollow pin into the medium, and aspirating the animal cell colony into the hollow pin. In the case of an adherent colony, the distal end of the pin is forced into oscillation to detach the animal cell colony prior to aspiration. The animal cell colony is dispensed into a well plate by increasing pressure in the fluid conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically analyzing samples in a biological sample container containing samples arranged at different locations on the base of the container. An optical acquisition device is provided comprising a detector and an objective. The position of the upper and lower surfaces of the base at each of the sample locations is determined by a confocal polychromatic displacement sensor. Light is collected from each of the sample locations by adjusting the focal plane to be coincident with, or vertically offset from, the upper surface of the base, as determined from the displacement sensor. This allows for rapid scanning of large numbers of samples in a multi-well plate or other biological sample containers.

Abstract: A calibration method for a flow cytometer with a multichannel detector module. During calibration, the fluorescence intensity data values for the different detector channels are used to calculate normalization factors needed to adjust subsequent data collected by each of the channels. By using a multichannel detector module, the results from the different flow cells can be reliably compared, so that multiple stages of flow cells can be arranged in series along a common flow path, for example to measure the same sample at defined time intervals.

Abstract: A robotic apparatus of the kind having a sample manipulation head with associated positioning system mounted above the main bed of the apparatus, as used for picking of cells, in particular animal cells, or for other biological or chemical applications. An imaging station is arranged on the main bed where a sample container containing a sample can be placed in an object position. According to the invention, both excitation and collection optical sub-systems are mounted under the main bed of the apparatus for performing spectroscopic analysis on a sample at the imaging station. The integration is based on a reflection mode optical solution, which allows all the optical components to be mounted under the main bed of the apparatus. Consequently, ancillary software driven or manual processes can be carried on with whether or not spectroscopic measurements are being made.

Abstract: A well plate of non-unitary construction. The well plate is constructed from a first part of interconnected tubes that define the side walls of each well and a second part defining the well bases. The hydrophobicity of the first part is selected to suppress meniscus formation in the wells, thereby assisting optical characterization of samples in the wells, in particular by phase contrast microscopy. This can be achieved by using a natural cycloolefin copolymer (COP) which is not subjected to the usual plasma treatment to improve its wetting. The second part is formed of a single transparent sheet of hydrophilic material, such as a COP, which is bonded to the first part, for example ultrasonically.

Abstract: A holder for holding biological sample containers such as well plates comprises a flat vacuum bed surrounded by a seal, and an exhaust outlet. A container placed with its lower perimeter on the seal has its flatness increased by removing air from between the vacuum bed and container via the exhaust outlet so that the reduced air pressure causes the lower surface of the container to be pressed against the flat vacuum bed. Samples in all portions of the container may then be imaged using a camera without the need to refocus the camera on each portion. A sample in a well of a well plate can be imaged when illuminated by a beam of light arranged so that a part or all of the sample is illuminated by direct rays that have not passed through the well plate. The beam is redirected to other parts of the sample if a single illumination does not cover the whole sample, so that the sample can be imaged using a series of partial images.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automated picking of animal cell colonies. A picking head comprising a plurality of hollow pins is provided. The apparatus has an integrated imager for capturing an image of adherent or non-adherent animal cell colonies held in liquid or semi-solid medium. Image processing identifies the locations of the animal cell colonies to be picked. Picking an animal cell colony is performed by aligning each of the hollow pins in turn with a target animal cell colony location, introducing the hollow pin into the medium, and aspirating the animal cell colony into the hollow pin. In the case of an adherent colony, the distal end of the pin is forced into oscillation to detach the animal cell colony prior to aspiration. The animal cell colony is dispensed into a well plate by increasing pressure in the fluid conduit.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and process for detecting the degree of confluence of animal cells being cultured in a well plate. A well plate is arranged in an imaging station and illuminated with a ring of LEDs, or other optical source, from below at an oblique angle. An image of the well is captured with a CCD camera or other detector from above or below, such that the well image is taken in a dark field configuration where light from the optical source, if not scattered, does not contribute to the well image. By the simple solution of illuminating wells of a well plate from below at an oblique angle, it has been found that many animal cell types can be imaged with sufficient contrast to allow cell identification and consequent cell area computation using image processing techniques, thereby allowing confluence to be determined of animal cells being cultured in well plates. This avoids the need for more complex optical imaging techniques, such as phase contrast microscopy.

Abstract: A robotic apparatus of the kind having a sample manipulation head with associated positioning system mounted above the main bed of the apparatus, as used for picking of cells, in particular animal cells, or for other biological or chemical applications. An imaging station is arranged on the main bed where a sample container containing a sample can be placed in an object position. According to the invention, both excitation and collection optical sub-systems are mounted under the main bed of the apparatus for performing spectroscopic analysis on a sample at the imaging station. The integration is based on a reflection mode optical solution, which allows all the optical components to be mounted under the main bed of the apparatus. Consequently, ancillary software driven or manual processes can be carried on with whether or not spectroscopic measurements are being made.