US 11,733,251 B2
Methods and systems of performing an assay
Brandon Zachary Sarich, Thousand Oaks, CA (US); Michael R. Berke, Newbury Park, CA (US); Chuck Z. Li, Thousand Oaks, CA (US); and Thomas Clark Pearson, Newbury Park, CA (US)
Assigned to AMGEN INC., Thousand Oaks, CA (US)
Filed by AMGEN INC., Thousand Oaks, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/741,808.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/801,025, filed on Feb. 4, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/800,372, filed on Feb. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0249248 A1, Aug. 6, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/00029 (2013.01) [G01N 35/00693 (2013.01); G01N 35/1002 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00306 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00346 (2013.01); G01N 2035/1027 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for performing an assay, comprising:
an enclosure defining a temperature-controlled space;
an imaging system disposed within the space;
an actuator disposed within the space, the actuator to receive a well plate having wells, the actuator to move the well plate relative to the imaging system to enable the imaging system to obtain image data of one of the wells, wherein the imaging system is positioned underneath the actuator;
a dispenser disposed within the space, the dispenser comprising:
a reservoir holder to receive a reservoir containing a compound, the reservoir holder comprising a block;
a pump to be fluidly coupled to the reservoir;
an outlet, the pump to pump the compound from the reservoir through the outlet into one of the wells;
a base comprising a rail, a first base portion, and a second base portion, the reservoir holder movably coupled to the base such that the block of the reservoir holder interacts with the rail to linearly guide the reservoir holder relative to the base;
an adjuster adapted to change a relative position of the outlet and a first one of the wells;
a threaded adjuster that extends through the reservoir holder and includes an end that is driven against a surface of the base to adjust the reservoir holder relative to the base; and
a controller, in response to the imaging system being positioned to obtain image data of the first one of the wells, the controller configured to cause the dispenser to dispense the compound into the first one of the wells while the imaging system obtains the image data;
wherein the first base portion comprises the rail and the second base portion comprises the surface against which the threaded adjuster is driven, the first base portion comprising a slot through which a fastener extends to couple the first base portion and the second base portion, the slot enabling fore-aft adjustment of the first base portion relative to the second base portion.