Patent ID: 6866461

Claim:
A device for automating transfer of a plurality of probes between a cassette within which the plurality of probes is initially constrained and an analytical instrument, the device comprising: a frame disposed external to a probe-receiving chamber integral to the analytical instrument; a cassette transport assembly attached to said frame, said cassette transport assembly having: (a) cassette retention means to receive the cassette, and (b) cassette translation means to linearly translate the cassette in a first axis to a defined insertion/removal position that aligns the cassette with respect to the probe-receiving chamber so that a select probe from the plurality of probes may be translated therebetween; and a probe insertion assembly attached to said frame, the probe insertion assembly having: (a) engagement means to rotatably engage one of the plurality of probes, (b) rotation means to rotate the engagement means, and (c) probe translation means to translate the engagement means in a second axis orthogonal to said first axis, wherein translation of one of the plurality of probes along said second axis translates that probe between the cassette and probe-receiving chamber.