CONTINUOUS PROCESSING AUTOMATED WORKSTATION

摘要

An automated workstation capable of continuous, non-stop processing of specimens includes an environmentally controlled storage area (110) that holds multiple cassettes (116) containing specimen plates (712). A robotic arm (128) for processing the specimens, an interlock mechanism which prevents the operator and robotic arm (128) from simultaneously accessing a cassette (116). Novel robotic arms (128), positioning mechanisms (500), plate handling mechanisms (710), effector tip/plate washing mechanisms (1022), thin-walled pipetters (1410), and fluid level detector mechanisms (1112), as well as methods for operating the same, facilitate continuous operation of the workstation along with compactness, high throughput and high accuracy of operation.