US 12,128,415 B2
Apparatuses for contactless loading and imaging of microfluidic chips and related methods
Ross Johnson, Austin, TX (US); Jonathan Isom, Austin, TX (US); David Bussian, Austin, TX (US); and Nicolas Arab, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to Pattern Bioscience, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by Pattern Bioscience, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/195,206.
Application 17/195,206 is a continuation of application No. 16/858,282, filed on Apr. 24, 2020, granted, now 10,953,404.
Prior Publication US 2021/0331178 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 9/00 (2006.01); B01L 1/02 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/31 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 9/527 (2013.01) [B01L 1/02 (2013.01); B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/50273 (2013.01); B01L 3/502784 (2013.01); G01N 21/31 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0642 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0647 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0663 (2013.01); B01L 2400/049 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for loading and imaging at least one microfluidic chip, the apparatus comprising:
a housing having walls that define a vacuum chamber, wherein at least one of the walls includes a transparent portion;
a first receptacle disposed within the vacuum chamber, the first receptacle defining a space for receiving one or more microfluidic chips;
a negative pressure source coupled to the housing and configured to reduce pressure within the vacuum chamber;
a light source coupled to the housing and positionable to illuminate at least a portion of the space for receiving the microfluidic chip(s); and
an optical sensor coupled to the housing and disposed outside of the vacuum chamber of the housing, wherein the optical sensor is configured to move relative to the housing outside of the vacuum chamber of the housing in at least two orthogonal directions and is positionable to capture an image of at least a portion of the space for receiving the one or more microfluidic chips through the transparent portion of at least one of the walls.