Device and method for holding a cassette for laboratory samples

Abstract

A device ( 1 ) for holding a laboratory sample cassette ( 2 ) having a marking surface ( 3 ) disposed at an inclined angle to a main body of the cassette ( 2 ), has a platen ( 10 ) with an aperture through which marking of the marking surface ( 3 ) can occur. The device ( 1 ) also has a receiving surface ( 13 ) for receiving one said cassette ( 2 ) which surface ( 13 ) is inclined relative to the platen ( 10 ), a stop ( 15 ) and a clamp ( 18 ). A received cassette ( 2 ) is slid down the inclined receiving surface ( 13 ) until the cassette ( 2 ) engages the stop ( 15 ) and so that the marking surface ( 3 ) substantially faces the platen ( 10 ) and a recess behind the marking surface ( 3 ) is aligned with the clamp ( 18 ). A plunger ( 19 ) of the clamp ( 18 ) is lowered towards the platen ( 10 ) and into the recess so that the marking surface ( 3 ) is pinned against the platen ( 10 ). The marking surface ( 3 ) can then be marked by marking means via the platen aperture. The plunger ( 19 ) is then moved away from the platen ( 10 ) and the cassette ( 2 ) is removed.

1 . A device ( 1 ) for holding a laboratory sample cassette ( 2 ) having a marking surface ( 3 ) disposed at an inclined angle (A) to a main body ( 4 ) of the cassette ( 2 ), the device comprising:
 a platen ( 10 ) with a marking region ( 11 ) through which marking of the marking surface ( 3 ) can occur;   a receiving surface ( 13 ) for receiving one said cassette which surface ( 13 ) is inclined with respect to the platen ( 10 );   a stop ( 15 ) for a received cassette ( 2 ) to rest against; and   a clamp ( 18 ) arranged to be lowered towards the platen ( 10 ) to urge the marking surface ( 3 ) against the platen ( 10 ).   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving surface ( 13 ) is inclined at an angle (B) of less than 45° to the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving surface ( 13 ) is inclined at an angle (B) in the range of 30° and 40° to the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving surface ( 13 ) is inclined at an angle (B) of substantially 35° to the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stop ( 15 ) has an inclined surface ( 16 ) facing the inclined receiving surface ( 13 ) that is inclined in the opposite direction thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the marking region comprises an aperture ( 11 ) for enabling marking means to mark the marking surface ( 3 ) of a cassette ( 2 ) clamped by the device ( 1 ). 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving surface ( 13 ) has guiding means ( 14 ) for aligning a received cassette ( 2 ) with the marking region ( 11 ) in the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stop ( 15 ) has guiding means ( 17 ) for aligning a received cassette ( 2 ) with the marking region ( 11 ) in the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving surface ( 13 ) is arranged to form the lowermost portion of a cassette receiving chute ( 12 ). 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , including retractable positioning means ( 30 ) arranged to be moved towards the inclined receiving surface ( 13 ) so as to engage the edge ( 5 ) of the marking surface ( 3 ) distal from the main body ( 4 ) of a pinned cassette ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , including retractable positioning means ( 30 ) arranged to urge a received cassette ( 2 ) against the inclined receiving surface ( 13 ). 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clamp ( 18 ) includes resilient means ( 28 ) energisable by the clamp ( 18 ) being lowered towards the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clamp ( 18 ) comprises at least one plunger ( 19 ) and driving means ( 20 ) for driving the at least one plunger ( 19 ) towards the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , including release means ( 20 ) arranged to release the resilient means ( 28 ) or the at least one plunger ( 19 ) so that the at least one plunger ( 19 ) is moved away from the platen ( 10 ) by the de-energisation of the resilient means ( 28 ). 
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the driving means comprises a solenoid ( 20 ). 
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claims 14 , wherein the release means comprises the solenoid ( 20 ) and is arranged to release the resilient means ( 28 ) when the solenoid ( 20 ) is switched from one state to another. 
     
     
         17 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein one end of the plunger ( 19 ) comprises a resilient tip ( 36 ) arranged to be urged towards the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         18 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the resilient means comprises a resilient spring ( 28 ) which is compressed when the at least one plunger ( 19 ) is lowered towards the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         19 . A method for holding a laboratory sample cassette ( 2 ) having a marking surface ( 3 ) disposed at an inclined angle (A) to a main body ( 4 ) of the cassette ( 2 ) and a recess ( 7 ) behind the marking surface ( 3 ), the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a platen ( 10 ) with a marking region ( 11 ) through which marking of the marking surface ( 3 ) can occur, a receiving surface ( 13 ) for receiving one said cassette ( 2 ) which surface ( 13 ) is inclined with respect to the platen ( 10 ), a stop ( 15 ), and a clamp ( 18 );   sliding a received cassette ( 2 ) down the inclined receiving surface ( 13 ) until the cassette ( 2 ) engages the stop ( 15 ) and so that the marking surface ( 3 ) substantially faces the platen ( 10 ) and the recess ( 7 ) behind the marking surface ( 3 ) is aligned with the clamp ( 18 ); and   lowering the clamp ( 18 ) towards the platen ( 10 ) and into the recess ( 7 ) so that the marking surface ( 3 ) is pinned against the platen ( 10 ).   
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the method includes moving the clamp ( 18 ) away from the platen ( 10 ) to release the cassette ( 2 ). 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the method includes providing the stop ( 15 ) with an inclined surface ( 16 ) facing the inclined receiving surface ( 13 ) and inclined in the opposite direction, and the step of lowering the clamp ( 18 ) includes sliding the edge ( 5 ) of the marking surface ( 3 ) distal from the main body ( 4 ) of the cassette ( 2 ) against the inclined surface ( 16 ) of the stop ( 15 ) so that the marking surface ( 3 ) is aligned with the marking region ( 11 ) of the platen ( 10 ). 
     
     
         22 . The device as claimed in  claim 19 , including moving retractable positioning means ( 30 ) towards the inclined receiving surface ( 13 ) so as to engage the edge ( 5 ) of the marking surface ( 3 ) distal from the main body ( 4 ) of a pinned cassette ( 2 ). 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , including urging a received cassette ( 2 ) against the inclined receiving surface ( 13 ) in order to align the cassette ( 2 ) with the marking region ( 11 ) of the platen ( 10 ).