Patent ID: 7211430

Claim:
A system comprising: a plurality of sample vessels, each of the sample vessels comprising a longitudinal axis, a growth medium and a stirrer, the stirrer capable of being influenced by a magnetic force; and an incubation and measurement module comprising at least one panel comprising a plurality of openings for holding the sample vessels, and a magnet driver comprising a plurality of magnets, wherein each of the openings corresponds with one of the magnets, wherein the magnet driver is adapted to repeatedly move each magnet proximate to and distant from the surface of a corresponding sample vessel when located in the corresponding opening, and wherein the openings are configured to hold the one or more sample vessels such that the longitudinal axis of the vessels are at an angle of less than 90° with the horizontal, wherein the magnet driver comprises: a magnet shaft assembly comprising a shaft and a plurality of magnet assemblies, wherein the plurality of magnet assemblies are coupled to the shaft, the magnet assemblies being discreet components or discreet parts of a single component or a combination thereof, wherein the magnet assemblies comprise a first magnet coupled to and extending from the shaft at a first angle, and a second magnet coupled to and extending from the shaft at a second angle, and wherein the first magnet corresponds with a first of the one or more openings and the second magnet corresponds with a second of the one or more openings adjacent to the first of the one or more openings, wherein the magnet shaft assembly is located in the module such that each of the magnet assemblies is located between two of the sample vessel openings.