Patent ID: 8012419
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: B01F,B01L,B03C,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An incubator for receiving a plurality of reaction receptacles and for maintaining the contents of the reaction fluids in a temperature controlled environment, said incubator comprising: a housing including a receptacle access opening formed therein for allowing movement of a reaction receptacle into or out of said housing through said receptacle access opening; a closure mechanism connected to said housing in proximal relation to said receptacle access opening, said closure mechanism including a door operatively positioned with respect to said receptacle access opening and movable between a closed position preventing access to said housing through said access opening and an open position permitting access to said housing through said access opening, and said door being constructed and arranged to be movable between the closed position and the open position by rotating about an axis extending through the receptacle access opening; said housing and said closure mechanism constituting an enclosure defining an incubation chamber therein; a heat source in thermal communication with said incubation chamber; and a receptacle carrier disposed within said incubation chamber and including a plurality of receptacle stations, each of said receptacle stations being constructed and arranged to carry a reaction receptacle, said receptacle carrier being constructed and arranged to present any of said plurality of receptacle stations in a receptacle transfer position with respect to said receptacle access opening.