Patent ID: 7122155

Claim:
A parallel processing apparatus for concurrent temperature controlled preparation of a plurality of biological samples adapted to be viewed by an electron microscope, the apparatus comprising: a modular core mechanism of plates stackable together in both a first and a second selected configuration, said plates including a filter plate having opposed first and second sides, a pumping plate engaged to the first side of the filter plate, and one of a fluid transfer plate and a sample receiving plate removably engaged to a second side of the filter plate, said first configuration defining said fluid transfer plate being engaged to said second side of the filter plate and said second configuration defining said sample receiving plate being engaged to said second side of the filter plate in place of the fluid transfer plate; the filter plate having a plurality of discrete open-ended processing channels extending therethrough between a plurality of first apertures defined in the first of the filter plate and a plurality of second apertures defined in the second side thereof, a sample deposition member transversely extending through each of said processing channels between said opposed first and second apertures for receiving and supporting the biological samples thereon, said sample deposition member allowing fluid flow therethrough in at least a direction towards the first side of the filter plate, said processing channels being individually sealed and isolated from each other such that fluid flow communication therebetween is prevented; the pumping plate having at least one nozzle disposed in sealed communication with said first apertures defined in said first side of the filter plate, said nozzle providing a selected one of forced fluid flow and a vacuum to said processing channels, said vacuum providing random sampling deposition of the biological samples onto the sample deposition member and drawing fluids therethrough for evacuation from the processing channels; the sample receiving plate including a plurality of closed-bottom wells therein, each well having an opening disposable in sealed communication with each of said second apertures in the second side of the filter plate when the sample receiving plate is engaged thereto; the fluid transfer plate defining a plurality of fluid flow channels extending therethrough, said fluid flow channels being individually sealed and isolated from each other such that fluid flow communication therebetween is prevented, each of said fluid flow channels being disposed in fluid flow communication with each corresponding one of said processing channels when the fluid transfer plate is engaged to the second side of the filter plate; and a releasable plate interconnection device retaining said plates of the core mechanism fastened together when the plate interconnection device is disposed in a fastening mode and being actuable to switch to a releasing mode wherein at least one of said plates is disengaged from the core mechanism and removable therefrom.