Michael A Lucas

US Patent:

6866461, Mar 15, 2005

Filed:

Feb 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/375507

Inventors:

Scott M. DeWinter - Oakland CA, US
John B. Rusconi - Dublin CA, US
Steven M. Clark - Palo Alto CA, US
Michael P. Lucas - Milpitas CA, US
Michael G. Youngquist - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

B65G065/00

US Classification:

41422207, 422 63

Abstract:

The present invention comprises a loading device for automating transfer of a plurality of probes between a cassette within which the plurality of probes are initially constrained and an analytical instrument, e. g. , mass spectrometer. The loading device may be configured to accept a single or a plurality of cassettes each removably constraining a plurality of probes to be analyzed. The loading device may permit each of the plurality of cassettes to be independently interchanged with a separate cassette removably constraining a separate plurality of probes during mass spectrometric analysis, or for additional cassettes to be loaded into the device during analysis. In a useful embodiment, the loading device comprises a cassette transport assembly and a probe insertion assembly. The cassette transport assembly linearly translates one or more cassettes to align the cassette(s) with respect to the mass spectrometer so that a probe may be translated therebetween by the probe insertion assembly. The probe insertion assembly also provides means to rotatably engage said probe.