Diagnostic apparatus including passive autoloader
Inventors
Sink, Rick • Pollard, Jasper N. • Young, Demetris • Correa, Jorge Carlos • Newcomb, David • Bresolin, Stefano • Heineck, Tobias M. • Calderwood, David A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10690900-B2
Publication Date
2020-06-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A microscope assembly for use in an automated microscope apparatus has a support frame; a cartridge magazine actuator assembly connected to the support frame; a subframe; a plurality of vibration isolators connecting the support frame to the subframe; an XYZ drive connected to the subframe; and an optical stage connected to the subframe. In some embodiments the assembly further includes a cartridge gripper connected to said XYZ drive. In some embodiments, the cartridge magazine actuator assembly includes an input element, an output element, and a transfer assembly interconnecting the input element and the output element, with the transfer assembly configured to linearly advance the output element upon linear depression of the input element.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a diagnostic automated epifluorescence microscope apparatus for use with a passive cartridge autoloader. The apparatus includes a support frame and a subframe connected by a plurality of vibration isolators to reduce vibration transfer, with an XYZ drive and an optical stage connected to the subframe for imaging using epifluorescent microscopy through an automated sequence.
Cartridge handling is implemented with a cartridge magazine actuator assembly that uses an input element, an output element, and a transfer assembly interconnecting the input and output elements. The transfer assembly comprises a scissor assembly such that movement of the input element in a first direction moves the output element in a second direction opposite the first direction, contacting a cartridge in a cartridge magazine and moving the cartridge out of the cartridge magazine.
The cartridge magazine and related handling elements include an upper magazine body portion with a cartridge insertion opening and a cartridge ejection opening, a raised polarizing rib configured to engage a cartridge notch, and an escape notch aligned with the cartridge ejection opening. A passively actuated cartridge stripper, a rigid kicker tab, a chute/flapper door, passive reset mechanisms, and a magnetic catch support cartridge ejection, sequential cartridge loading and imaging across multiple cartridge chambers, and return to a home position.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover three core aspects: (i) a microscope assembly with a scissor-driven cartridge magazine actuator and vibration-isolated imaging support; (ii) an automated microscope system that images samples in cartridge chambers using an XYZ-driven cartridge gripper, a cartridge magazine with alignment/polarizing structure, and the scissor actuator to load cartridges; and (iii) a cartridge magazine actuator assembly that moves cartridges out of the magazine using an input/output scissor mechanism. Across these independent claims, inventive features repeatedly tie cartridge loading and ejection to an input-output scissor kinematic transfer and to an automated imaging arrangement with an XYZ drive and an optical stage.
Vibration-isolated microscope assembly with scissor-driven magazine actuator
A microscope assembly for use in an automated microscope apparatus including a support frame, vibration isolators connecting the support frame to a subframe, an XYZ drive connected to the subframe, and an optical stage connected to the subframe; and a cartridge magazine actuator assembly comprising an input element, an output element, and a transfer assembly interconnecting the input element and the output element, the transfer assembly further comprising a scissor assembly on opposite ends so that input movement in a first direction moves the output element in a second direction opposite the first direction to thereby move the output element and move a cartridge out of a cartridge magazine.
Automated microscope with XYZ-driven cartridge gripper and polarizing cartridge magazine
An automated microscope system comprising an XYZ drive, a cartridge gripper connected to the XYZ drive and configured to secure a sample cartridge, an imaging system configured to image a sample in at least one chamber of the sample cartridge, a cartridge magazine configured to contain a plurality of the cartridges with an upper magazine body portion having cartridge insertion and cartridge ejection openings, a raised polarizing rib configured to engage a cartridge notch with an escape notch aligned with the cartridge ejection opening, and a magazine actuator assembly configured to load a cartridge from the magazine to the cartridge gripper, wherein a controller activates the cartridge magazine actuator assembly by motion of the XYZ drive; wherein the magazine actuator assembly comprises an input element, an output element, and a transfer assembly with a scissor assembly such that input movement in a first direction moves the output element in a second direction opposite the first direction so the output element contacts a cartridge and moves the cartridge out of the cartridge magazine.
Cartridge magazine actuator assembly with scissor input/output to eject cartridges
A cartridge magazine actuator assembly comprising a frame having a cartridge engagement portion, an input element, and an output element configured to operatively engage a cartridge stripper in a cartridge magazine, and a transfer assembly connected to the frame and interconnecting the input element and the output element, wherein the transfer assembly further comprises a scissor assembly comprising the input element and the output element on opposite ends such that when the input element moves in a first direction, the scissor assembly moves the output element in a second direction opposite the first direction to thereby move the output element so that the output element contacts a cartridge in a cartridge magazine and moves the cartridge out of the cartridge magazine.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on automated cartridge loading and ejection for an automated microscope using an input element/output element transfer assembly with a scissor assembly that drives cartridge movement out of a cartridge magazine, combined with an XYZ-driven cartridge gripper and an imaging system configured to image samples in cartridge chambers. The microscope assembly further includes vibration-isolated support for an optical stage, and the automated microscope system includes a polarizing cartridge magazine structure for cartridge notch engagement and alignment.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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