Centrifuge with variable angle buckets and method for loading a device
A sample preparation apparatus includes a robotic system providing movement in three orthogonal directions to an arm operable to receive a pipette tip and to facilitate movement of fluid into and out of the pipette tip. Optionally, the robot can include a gripper arm in addition to the pipette receiving arm. In addition, the sample preparation apparatus can include a tray for receiving pipette tips, receptacles for receiving tubes, an apparatus for forming an emulsion, a device for forming particles that include copies of the polynucleotide, a device for enriching the particles, as well as a centrifuge for loading such particles onto a sensor array. The sample preparation apparatus can further include receptacles for holding containers of reagent solutions.
1. A centrifuge comprising:
a rotor to spin within a plane;
a lower plate mounted on the rotor;
an upper plate positioned above the lower plate, wherein the upper plate is configured to move relative to the lower plate in a direction normal to the plane;
a first arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the upper plate, a second end of the first arm pivotally coupled to a carrier; and
a second arm pivotally coupled to the lower plate at a first end, a second end of the second arm pivotally coupled to the first arm at a position on the first arm between the first end and the second end of the first arm;
wherein an angle of the carrier relative to the plane changes responsive to movement of the upper plate normal to the plane.
2. The centrifuge of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator coupled to the upper plate to move the upper plate in the direction normal to the plane.
3. The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is configured to receive a sequencing component including two fluid ports.
4. The centrifuge of claim 3 , wherein the two fluid ports are to face inward toward an axis of spinning of the rotor.
5. The centrifuge of claim 3 , further comprising a fastener to secure the sequencing component to the carrier.
6. The centrifuge of claim 5 , wherein the fastener includes elements to engage the two fluid ports of the sequencing component.
7. The centrifuge of claim 1 , further comprising a third arm and a fourth arm, the third arm pivotally coupled to the upper plate at a first end of the third arm, a second end of the third arm pivotally coupled to a first end of the fourth arm, a second end of the fourth arm pivotally coupled to the lower plate.
8. The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein when the upper plate moves away from the rotor, the carrier moves toward a horizontal position.
9. The centrifuge of claim 1 , wherein when the upper plate moves toward the rotor, the carrier moves toward a vertical position.
10. The centrifuge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second carrier;
a third arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the upper plate, a second end of the third arm pivotally coupled to the second carrier; and
a fourth arm pivotally coupled to the lower plate at a first end, a second end of the fourth arm pivotally coupled to the third arm at a position on the third arm between the first end and the second end of the third arm.
11. A method for depositing a sample on a component, the method comprising:
inserting a component into a carrier of a centrifuge device, the centrifuge device comprising:
a rotor to spin within a plane;
a lower plate mounted on the rotor;
an upper plate positioned above the lower plate, wherein the upper plate is configured to move relative to the lower plate in a direction normal to the plane;
a first arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the upper plate, a second end of the first arm pivotally coupled to a carrier; and
a second arm pivotally coupled to the lower plate at a first end, a second end of the second arm pivotally coupled to the first arm at a position on the first arm between the first end and the second end of the first arm;
applying a sample into the component;
spinning the rotor when the carrier is at a first angle resulting from moving the upper plate toward the rotor; and
spinning the rotor when the carrier is at a second angle resulting from moving the upper plate away from the rotor.
12. The method of claim 11 , the centrifuge device further comprising an actuator coupled to the upper plate to move the upper plate in the direction normal to the plane.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the component is a sequencing component including two fluid ports.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the two fluid ports are to face inward toward an axis of spinning of the rotor.
15. The method of claim 13 , the centrifuge device further comprising a fastener to secure the sequencing component to the carrier.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fastener includes elements to engage the two fluid ports of the sequencing component.
17. The method of claim 11 , the centrifuge device further comprising a third arm and a fourth arm, the third arm pivotally coupled to the upper plate at a first end of the third arm, a second end of the third arm pivotally coupled to a first end of the fourth arm, a second end of the fourth arm pivotally coupled to the lower plate.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein when the upper plate moves away from the rotor, the carrier moves toward a horizontal position.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein when the upper plate moves toward the rotor, the carrier moves toward a vertical position.
20. The method of claim 11 , the centrifuge device further comprising:
a second carrier;
a third arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the upper plate, a second end of the third arm pivotally coupled to the second carrier; and
a fourth arm pivotally coupled to the lower plate at a first end, a second end of the fourth arm pivotally coupled to the third arm at a position on the third arm between the first end and the second end of the third arm.