Multiwell scanner and scanning method

Abstract

A multiwell plate scanner comprises a detector for measuring an attribute of a sample which is scanned continuously over wells of a multiwell plate. A signal obtained during the scan may be sampled and digitized based on detector position over the multiwell plate. The scanner is also disclosed for scanning microarrays, bio-chips and areas of samples not having physical separations. The scanner may be used in a high throughput screening system comprising a storage and retrieval module, a sample distribution module, a reagent distribution module, and a detector which incorporates the scanner. The screening system may further comprise a transport module and a data processing and integration module for transporting samples between the components of the system and for controlling system operation. In a further aspect, the present invention comprises methods and apparatus to compensate for variations, inconsistencies and other differences in the dimensions, configuration and/or materials of the platform in which an assay is performed. Another aspect of the invention is a system and method for performing an assay to detect the effect of a reagent on a target. The present invention is also directed to compositions and therapeutics identified by the disclosed methods. A further aspect of the present invention is a method of testing a therapeutic for therapeutic activity and toxicology by identifying a compound using a method of the present invention and monitoring the toxicology and efficacy of the therapeutic in an in vivo model.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . An apparatus for detecting a physicochemical property of a plurality of samples disposed on a platform, the apparatus comprising: 
 a platform positioning stage for supporting the platform and aligning a predetermined location of said platform with a predetermined position;    a first sensor which pre-measures a characteristic of the platform at a plurality of different locations on said platform and transmits a plurality of pre-measured values to a controller;    a detector having a signal output representative of the physicochemical property, said detector positioned to detect the physicochemical property of a sample on said platform when said sample is aligned with the predetermined position, said detector having optics for receiving light transmitted from said samples, said optics mounted on an optics positioning device;    said controller adapted to receive and store said plurality of the pre-measured values and transmit a signal to the optics positioning device according to said pre-measured values to control the position of said optics relative to said platform during detection; and    said optics positioning device adapted to automatically adjust the position of the optics relative to said platform in response to a signal from the controller based upon said pre-measured values.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said detector measures fluorescent light.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said optics comprises a fiber optic bundle for transmitting light to detector electronics.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said platform comprises a multiwell plate having 96, or 384, or 1536, or 3456 wells.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said first sensor measures the distance between the first sensor and a bottom surface of said platform.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said platform is a multiwell plate, said feature is the bottom surface of said multiwell plate and said first sensor measures the distance between the first sensor and said bottom surface of said platform.  
     
     
         40 - 48 . (canceled)