US 12,072,342 B2
Apparatus for transporting sample receptacle carriers
Gary Lair, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 1, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/828,885.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/429,393, filed on Dec. 2, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2018/0180634 A1, Jun. 28, 2018
Int. Cl. G01N 35/04 (2006.01); G01N 1/14 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/02 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/00732 (2013.01) [G01N 1/14 (2013.01); G01N 35/0099 (2013.01); G01N 35/021 (2013.01); G01N 35/10 (2013.01); G01N 2001/1418 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0467 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0477 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of transporting a sample containing receptacle coupled to a sample receptacle carrier, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) moving the sample receptacle carrier onto a carrier support portion of a dock;
(b) magnetically coupling a magnetic portion of the sample receptacle carrier with one or more magnets fixedly contained within or disposed on the dock to secure the sample receptacle carrier to the dock;
(c) after step (a), moving the dock coupled to the sample receptacle carrier from a first position located adjacent to or within a processing instrument to a second position located within the processing instrument;
(d) at the second position, aspirating a portion of the sample contained within the sample containing receptacle; and
(e) performing an assay on the aspirated portion of the sample.