Cartridge for storing biosample plates and use in automated data storage systems

US8640964B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Allen Keith Bates · Tucson, US
• Nils Haustein · Nieder-Olm, DE
• James W. Johnson · Delaware, US
• Stephen L. Schwartz · Tucson, US
• Anna W. Topol · Jefferson Valley, US
• Daniel J. Winarski · Tucson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 1, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 4, 2014
• Expiry date: Nov 9, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G11B23/049
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a biosample cartridge that includes storage slots for holding biosample plates. The cartridge has the same form factor as data tape cartridges to allow the cartridge to be handled by the same robotic mechanisms that handle data cartridges in an automated tape library. One aspect of the disclosure concerns a biosample storage cartridge that has a movable door to provide access to inside the cartridge and a plate holder disposed inside the cartridge. The plate holder includes a plurality of slots for receiving biosample plates that are scanned and processed by the automated tape library.