US 12,235,279 B2
Sample processing module array handling system and methods
Ronald Chang, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Steven Montgomery, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Gregory Mote, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Brian Bliven, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/953,870.
Application 16/953,870 is a division of application No. 15/816,960, filed on Nov. 17, 2017, granted, now 10,871,498.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/424,313, filed on Nov. 18, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0072269 A1, Mar. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/02 (2006.01); G01N 35/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/025 (2013.01) [G01N 35/00029 (2013.01); G01N 35/00732 (2013.01); G01N 35/00871 (2013.01); G01N 35/04 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00148 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00158 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00326 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00356 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00445 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00881 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0425 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0427 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0451 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0453 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0465 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
 
1. A method of handling a plurality of biological samples with a high throughput processing system, each of the plurality of biological samples being within a diagnostic assay cartridge of a plurality of diagnostic assay cartridges, the method comprising:
receiving each of the plurality of diagnostic assay cartridges in a high throughput processing system with a loader by releasably coupling with each of the plurality of diagnostic assay cartridges; and
loading, with the loader, each of the plurality of diagnostic assay cartridges into a receiving bay of a respective diagnostic assay module of a plurality of diagnostic assay modules within an array support, the array support defining an array having at least two dimensions, each diagnostic assay module comprising a diagnostic assay system adapted for receiving a diagnostic assay cartridge of the plurality and performing a diagnostic assay on a biological sample within a respective cartridge, wherein loading comprises moving the array support relative the loader by a controller of the system coupled with an automation computer such that the diagnostic assay cartridge is loadable in any of the diagnostic assay modules within the array by the moving of the array support structure relative the loader in combination with the loader.