CPC G02B 7/36 (2013.01) [G01N 21/253 (2013.01); G01N 21/6452 (2013.01); G01N 35/028 (2013.01)] | 29 Claims |
1. An instrument for conducting luminescence assays in a multi-well plate, the instrument comprising a light detection subsystem and a plate handling subsystem, wherein the plate handling subsystem comprises:
(a) a light-tight enclosure comprising a housing and a removable drawer, wherein
(x) the housing comprises a housing top, a housing front, one or more plate introduction apertures, a detection aperture, a sliding light-tight door for sealing the one or more plate introduction apertures, and a plurality of alignment features, wherein the housing is adapted to receive the removable drawer, and
(y) the removable drawer comprises:
(i) an x-y subframe comprising a plurality of companion alignment features configured to mate and engage with the plurality of alignment features to align the removable drawer within the housing relative to the light detection subsystem, wherein a weight of the removable drawer is supported by the housing top;
(ii) one or more plate elevators with a plate lifting platform that can be raised and lowered, wherein the one or more plate elevators are positioned below the one or more plate introduction apertures;
(iii) a plate translation stage for translating a plate in one or more horizontal directions, wherein the plate translation stage comprises a plate carriage for supporting the plate, the plate carriage has an opening to allow the one or more plate elevators positioned below the plate carriage to access and lift the plate, and the plate translation stage is configured to position plates below the detection aperture and to position the plates above the one or more plate elevators; and
(b) one or more plate stackers mounted on the housing top, above the one or more plate introduction apertures, wherein the one or more plate stackers are configured to receive or deliver plates to the one or more plate elevators; and
wherein the light detection subsystem comprises a light detector mounted on the housing top and coupled to the detection aperture with a light-tight seal.
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