US 11,680,950 B2
Scanning apparatus and methods for detecting chemical and biological analytes
Matias Negatu, San Diego, CA (US); Alex Nemiroski, San Diego, CA (US); Drew Ival Frerichs, San Diego, CA (US); Dale Buermann, San Diego, CA (US); Michael John Erickstad, San Diego, CA (US); Rebecca McGinley, San Diego, CA (US); Harry Scott Rapoport, San Diego, CA (US); Arnold Oliphant, Morgan Hill, CA (US); and Eugene Pogrebinsky, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 20, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/796,623.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/807,934, filed on Feb. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0264204 A1, Aug. 20, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 35/02 (2006.01); G01N 35/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/026 (2013.01) [G01N 2035/0413 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0465 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0475 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A scanning detection apparatus, comprising:
(a) a scan actuator comprising a linear actuator and a mount for a removable vessel, wherein the mount comprises a mechanical fastener that is configured to engage a complementary mechanical fastener on the removable vessel, and wherein the linear actuator is configured to translate the mount thereby sliding the removable vessel while the mechanical fastener engages the complementary mechanical fastener on the removable vessel;
(b) a detection apparatus comprising a reference surface that forms a structural loop with a detector, and an objective configured to direct an optical signal from the removable vessel to the detector; and
(c) a preload configured to urge the removable vessel to contact the reference surface, wherein the linear actuator is configured to slide the removable vessel along the reference surface while the preload urges the removable vessel to contact the reference surface,
wherein the reference surface is parallel to an xy plane of a Cartesian coordinate system,
wherein the linear actuator is configured to move the mechanical fastener along the x dimension, thereby sliding the removable vessel along the x dimension, and
wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a post, wherein the post runs lengthwise along the y dimension.