Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CLAIMS
1. Method for carrying out large numbers of similar chemical/biological tests,
in
which method large numbers of different compounds are inserted into
cavities (3) of plates (2) and are subjected to test reactions and
measurements,
wherein the plates (2) are transported in a succession of individually
transported plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) along a predetermined treatment path
being substantially closed in itself to selected ones of a plurality of
treatment
stations (12, 12.1, 20) and away from the selected treatment stations (12,
12.1, 20),
wherein not selected treatment stations (12, 12.1, 20) are bypassed,
wherein in selected treatment stations, freely selectable plates (2) are
removed from plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) for the application of compounds, for
test reactions or for measurements, are positioned in a treatment position
(13)
and are repositioned in plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2),
wherein plates (2) in plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) are stored in movable storage
containers (10) in individually accessible plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2), which
containers can be brought into a manipulating position,
wherein plates (2) are manipulated in plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) between
storage and transport and
wherein in each plate stack (1, 1.1, 1.2) a plurality of plates (2) are
loosely
superimposed and a covering plate (4) lies on the uppermost plate.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the different compounds are taken
from cavities (3) of library plates (2) and are transferred to cavities (3) of
plates (2) for which, in the same treatment station, plates (2) are removed
from two plate stacks (1.1, 1.2) and are replaced in two plate stacks (1.1,
1.2).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each plate (2) which is removed
from a plate stack (1, 1.1, 1.2) in a treatment station (12, 12.1, 20) is
repositioned in the same location in the same plate stack (1, 1.1, 1.2) after
treatment.
4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a specific storage
location
in a storage container (10) is allocated to each stack (1, 1.1, 1.2).
5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein standardized microtest
plates are used as plates (2).
6. Method according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2)
are
transported with the help of individually drivable transport means (12) along
a system of rails (33, 34, 35) and switch points from a storage area to the
treatment stations (12, 12.1, 20) and from a treatment station (12, 12.1, 20)
to
a next treatment station (12, 12.1, 20).
7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plates (2) are
separated
for preheating and are incubated in a plate stack (1, 1.2) directly after the
preheating.
8. Method according to claim 7, wherein for incubation, the plate stacks (1,
1.2)
are transported through a continuous incubator (36).
9. Device for carrying out large numbers of identical chemical/biological
tests,
wherein large numbers of different compounds are inserted into cavities (3)
of plates (2) and are subjected to test reactions and measurements, which
device comprises a plurality of treatment stations (12, 12.1, 20) for
insertion
compounds into cavities (3) of plates (2) and for subjecting the compounds in
the cavities (3) of plates (2) to test reactions and measurements, storage
means for storing plates (2) in plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2), means for
transporting plates (2) in plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) from storage to selected
treatment stations (12, 12.1, 20) and between selected treatment stations (12,
12.1, 20),
wherein the means for transporting comprises a rail system substantially
closed in itself and stack transporting means (15) individually movable on the
rail system (33, 34, 35) and the stack transporting means (15) are movable on
the rail system to and away from selected treatment stations (12, 12.1, 20)
and past non-selected treatment stations (12, 12.1, 20) on bypasses,
wherein there is at least one plate separation element (32) allocated to each
treatment station (12, 12.1, 20) for freely selectable removal of individual
plates (2) from a plate stack (1) transported to the treatment station (12,
12.1,
20), for positioning the removed plate (2) in a treatment position (13) of the
treatment station (12, 12.1, 20) and for repositioning individual plates (2)
in a
plate stack (1, 1.1, 1.2),
wherein the storage means for storing plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) comprises
storage containers (10) being movable along a path, being positionable in at
least one manipulating position and allowing removal and repositioning of
individual plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) in a freely selectable order,
wherein stack manipulating means (31) for removing stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) from
storage, for re-storing stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) and for loading and unloading
stack
transport means (15) are allocated to each manipulating position and
wherein the plates (2) are equipped for loosely superimposed stacking and a
covering plate (4) is provided for each stack (1, 1.1, 1.2).
10. Device according to claim 9, wherein for removal of compounds from
cavities (3) of library plates and for transferring the removed compounds to
cavities (3) of plates (2) at least one treatment station (20) with two plate
separation elements (32) is provided.
11. Device according to claims 9 or 10, wherein the storage containers (10)
comprise draw-out shelves (11) on which plate stacks (1, 1.1, 1.2) are
positionable distanced from each other.
12. Device according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of storage containers
(10) is
provided which are movably along a rail (30).
13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the rail system (33,
34,
35) comprises controlled switch points.
14. Device according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the stack manipulating
means (31) comprises a gripper being movable from above towards a drawn
out shelf (11), being equipped for gripping a plate stack (1, 1.1, 1.2) and
being movable above a transport means being positioned on the rail system
(33/34/35) and lowerable onto said transport means.
15. Device according to one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the plate separation
elements (32) comprise a stack shovel (40) for removing a stack (1, 1.1, 1.2)
from a transport means positioned in a transfer position (42), for moving the
stack into a working position (43) and for lifting the stack to different
levels
in the working position.
16. Device according to claim 15, wherein the plate separation element (32)
comprises an upper pair (50) and a lower pair (51) of supporting parts
cooperating with the stack shovel (40) in the working position (43), the
support parts being pivotable into a resting position and a holding position.
17. Device according to claim 16, wherein the plate separation elements (32)
comprise a plate sledge (41) being displaceable between the treatment
position (13) and the working position (43).
18. Device according to one of claims 9 to 17, wherein the at least one
treatment
station is a preheating station (12.1) and wherein this preheating station
(12.1)
is followed downstream by an incubator (36).
19. Device according to claim 18, wherein the incubator (36) is a continuous
incubator with at least one rail track leading through it.
20. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the at least one
treatment
station comprises a plate transporting means leading from an entrance point
to an exit point and wherein a first separation element for positioning
individual plates in the entrance point is allocated to the entrance point and
a
second separation element for removing individual plates from the exit point
is allocated to the exit point.