Automated pelletized sample decanting apparatus and methods

摘要

An automated sample tube decanting system having one or more decanting grippers, a decant waste receptacle, a transporter, and means for rotating the decanting gripper. Each decanting gripper has a respective holder configured to selectively mate with a respective interface on a tube strip. The one or more decanting grippers are rotatable between a first position in which the tube strip is upright and a second position in which the tube strip is inverted. The transporter is configured to move the one or more decanting grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the decant waste receptacle.

主权项

1. An automated sample tube decanting system comprising:
a tube strip; a first decanting gripper having a first holder configured to mate with a first interface on a first side of the tube strip, and a second decanting gripper having a second holder configured to mate with a second interface on a second side of the tube strip, the first and second decanting grippers being rotatable between a first position in which the tube strip is upright and a second position in which the tube strip is inverted; a decant waste receptacle; a transporter comprising a pipettor channel operatively connected to the one or more decanting grippers and the decant waste receptacle and configured to move the one or more decanting grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the decant waste receptacle; and rotation means for selectively rotating the decanting grippers from the first position to the second position to pour supernatant from the tube strip; wherein each decanting gripper comprises a base attached to the transporter and an arm rotatably mounted to the base, and the first holder and the second holder are located on the respective arm of the first decanting gripper and the second decanting gripper.