US 12,325,020 B2
Analytical system with accurate positioning of multiwell plates
Lukas Dysli, Aarau (CH); and Christian Thalmann, Kehrsiten (CH)
Assigned to Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/648,852.
Application 17/648,852 is a division of application No. 15/718,634, filed on Sep. 28, 2017, granted, now 11,235,322, issued on Feb. 1, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 16191771 (EP), filed on Sep. 30, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0143599 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. B01L 9/00 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/686 (2018.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 35/02 (2006.01); G01N 35/04 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [B01L 3/50255 (2013.01); B01L 3/5085 (2013.01); B01L 9/523 (2013.01); C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); G01N 21/6452 (2013.01); G01N 35/028 (2013.01); B01L 2200/025 (2013.01); B01L 2200/026 (2013.01); B01L 2200/028 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0609 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0627 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0829 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0858 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0877 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0893 (2013.01); G01N 2035/042 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for conducting a biological or chemical assay, the method comprising the following steps:
a. providing a multiwell plate comprising a plurality of wells in an optically transparent area, and at least one inlet port, the multiwell plate having a first docking structure spaced apart from the optically transparent area, wherein the multiwell plate is held at its rim by a frame with sufficient lateral clearance to spatially compensate for differential expansion of frame and multiwell plate; wherein the first docking structure comprises at least one half-circle shaped indentation disposed at the rim of the multiwell plate, and the frame comprises at least one gap corresponding to the at least one inlet port on the multiwall port that holds the multiwall plate at its rim;
b. docking the multiwell plate to a baseplate having a protruding second docking structure corresponding to the at least one half-circle shaped indentation of the first docking structure and thereby firmly laterally positioning the multiwell plate with its plurality of wells in the optically transparent area relative to the baseplate, while not fixing the frame and the baseplate directly to each other, such that the lateral clearance between frame and multiwell plate is maintained;
c. subjecting the firmly positioned multiwell plate to one or more steps of a biological or chemical assay; and
d. optically detecting contents of the plurality of wells with an optical detection system functionally coupled to the baseplate, the optical detection system comprising at least one light source and at least one detector.