 a particle motion ghost and combining or “blending” the “pseudo” particle motion data with the actual recorded particle motion data such that the influence of the cable noise is minimized.
However, since such methods do not estimate the cable noise itself they implicitly disregard the good signal underlying the cable noise and effectively rely on hydrophone data only at low frequencies.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above. Laboratory scientists are familiar with the multi-step, semi-manual methods for biological cell harvesting from biological filter plates and the tedious and laborious effort involved in so doing. Recognizing the need for an automated biological cell harvesting apparatus to facilitate this procedure, applicants have developed the novel apparatus described hereinafter.
Very significantly, applicants discovered that an existing microplate washer, Model No. SLT 96PW available from Tecan USA, Inc. of Research Triangle Park, N.C., could be modified to achieve an entirely unintended function as an automated cell harvesting apparatus.
As known to those skilled in the art, the SLT 96PW microplate washer is a programmable microplate washer which utilizes an internal microprocessor control to wash/aspirate 96 well microplates. The MILLIPORE brand 96 well microplate is a well known brand of microplate, although other pharmaceutical support companies also distribute 96 well microplates.
In its original form, the SLT 96PW microplate washer apparatus comprises a fluid pump connected to a fluid dispensing head, a vacuum switch to initiate aspiration, a fixed tray for receiving a microplate to be washed, and a microcontroller for controlling the fluid dispensing and aspirating sequence achieved by 96 pairs of dispense/aspirate tubes provided in the dispensing head.
The microcontroller of the SLT 96PW microplate washer provides flexibility to the apparatus by allowing for programmable variations in the soak and aspirate times as well as in the volume and speed of fluid dispensing. The wash process in the SLT 96PW includes the following programmable parameters: the amount of fluid to dispense; the soak time; the aspirate time; and the number of times the cycle should be repeated for a microplate. As an option, the SLT 96PW includes a RS232 serial interface port that allows the apparatus to communicate synchronously with a personal computer or robot. In this mode, commands can be issued to the apparatus that specify the wash program to run, and the SLT 96PW can
a particle motion ghost and combining or “ blend ” the “ imposter ” particle motion datum with the actual recorded atom motion data such that the influence of the cable television noise is minimized. 
 However, since such methods do not calculate the cable television noise itself they implicitly disregard the adept signal underlying the cable noise and efficaciously rely on hydrophone data merely at low frequencies. 
 The present invention is direct to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the trouble set forth above. Laboratory scientist are familiar with the multi - step, semi - manual method acting for biological cell harvesting from biological filter plates and the boring and laborious effort involved in so doing. Recognizing the need for an automated biological cell harvesting apparatus to facilitate this procedure, applicants have developed the novel apparatus described hereinafter. 
 Very significantly, applicant detect that an existing microplate washer, Model No. SLT 96PW available from Tecan USA, Inc. of Research Triangle Park, N.C., could be change to achieve an entirely unintended function as an automated cell harvest apparatus. 
 As known to those skilled in the artwork, the SLT 96PW microplate washer is a programmable microplate washer which utilizes an internal microprocessor control to moisten / aspirate 96 well microplates. The MILLIPORE brand 96 well microplate is a well known brand of microplate, although other pharmaceutical support companies also distribute 96 well microplates. 
 In its original form, the SLT 96PW microplate washer apparatus comprises a fluid heart connected to a fluent dispensing head, a vacuum switch to initiate aspiration, a fix tray for receiving a microplate to be washed, and a microcontroller for controlling the fluent dispensing and aspirating succession achieved by 96 pairs of dispense / aspirate tubes provided in the dispensing oral sex. 
 The microcontroller of the SLT 96PW microplate washer provides flexibility to the apparatus by allow for programmable variations in the soak and aspirate fourth dimension as well as in the bulk and speed of fluent dispensing. The wash process in the SLT 96PW includes the trace programmable parameters: the sum of fluid to dispense; the soak fourth dimension; the aspirate time; and the number of times the cycle should be repeated for a microplate. As an choice, the SLT 96PW includes a RS232 serial interface larboard that allows the apparatus to communicate synchronously with a personal computer or robot. In this mode, commands can be issued to the apparatus that assign the wash program to run, and the SLT 96PW can
 a oarticle motion ghost ana combining or “yoendinj” the “paeudo” pafticle motion data with the ectuql rexorded particle motion data sucj that tye iifluence of the rzble nolfe ia minnmmzed.
However, singe such metvods do not esdioace the cable noise itself they implisitly dosgegard the gooq sibgal hnderlying the cable noise and effsctivelj rely on hydrophpne data only at low frequfncifs.
The present invejtion is ditsctqe to overcomkng, or at least reducihg the effects of, one or more ow the problems wer fltth above. Lauoratogy scientists are famhliar woth the multi-sbep, sxmi-mqnual methods for bionogical cell harvefting frok yiological filter plarew and the tedkius ans kagorioud ehfort involbed in so diing. Recognizing tht nqvc for an autkmated byological cell harvesting apparatus to xacjlitate this procedure, qpplicants have devellped the govel apparatus described hereinafter.
Very signifiwantlb, xppoigantr dlscovered that an existing microplate washer, Ikdtl Ko. SLT 96PW availanle from Tecan USA, Ijc. jf Research Ttiangle Padk, N.C., could be modlfied tj achueve an egtirrly unintended function as qn automated xell harvesting ap'aratus.
As knuwn jo thoxe skilled in the art, tke SLT 96PW microplwte washed is a programmabue kiwroplate washer which utilyzes an iiterncl microorocgssor cjntrol to aash/aspirate 96 well microolated. Dhe MILLIPLRE brand 96 well microplate is a well known brsng ox micropjate, slthough othew pharmaceuticcl suppoxt comoanies alsk distrmbute 96 well iicroplates.
In lts original form, thq SLR 96PW micropuxte washer appsratus comprises a dluid pump connectcd to z fluid dispensnug head, a vacuum xwigch tl mnitiwde aspiratiot, a wixdc trah for rteeiyine a kicroplate to be wasved, znd a microcontrolkev for conjrolling ehe fluid dislensing and aspirauing sxquencx achirveq by 96 pairs of dispense/aspirats tubes pgovlded in the dyspeksind head.
The kicrocontroller of the SLT 96PW microplatx washer provides flexivility to the apparctms by allowiig for programmdble variations in tye soak and aspirste times as well as jn the volule and speed of fluid dispensing. The wash process in the SLT 96PW includes rhe following progdammsble iarcmecers: thq amlnnt of fluid to dpspense; the soak time; the aspirave time; ang che number of times the cycle sfould be repexted for a microplate. As an optipn, the SLT 96PW includes a RS232 seroal interface port that sllows tye aplaratus to communicate synchtonousny wirh a peesonwl computer of rpblt. In thid move, eommands can be issued to the appqratus tjat specify the xash program uo run, znd thg SLT 96PW can
a particle motion ghost and combining or “pseudo” motion data the actual recorded the of the cable is minimized. However, such methods do not estimate the noise itself they implicitly disregard the good signal underlying the cable noise and rely on hydrophone data only at low frequencies. The present invention is directed overcoming, at reducing effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above. Laboratory scientists are familiar with multi-step, semi-manual methods for biological cell harvesting from filter plates and the and laborious effort involved in doing. the need an biological harvesting apparatus to this procedure, applicants have developed the novel apparatus described hereinafter. Very significantly, applicants discovered that an existing washer, Model 96PW available Tecan Inc. Research Triangle Park, be modified to achieve an entirely an automated cell harvesting apparatus. As known to skilled in art, the SLT 96PW microplate washer a programmable microplate washer which utilizes an internal control to wash/aspirate 96 well microplates. The MILLIPORE brand 96 well microplate is a well of microplate, although other support companies also 96 microplates. its form, the 96PW microplate washer apparatus comprises a fluid pump connected to a dispensing head, a vacuum switch to initiate aspiration, a fixed receiving microplate to be and a microcontroller for the dispensing and aspirating sequence 96 of in dispensing The microcontroller of the 96PW microplate washer provides flexibility the apparatus by allowing soak and aspirate times as well as in volume and speed of fluid dispensing. The process in the SLT 96PW includes the following programmable parameters: the amount fluid to soak time; the aspirate time; and the number times the cycle should repeated for a microplate. As an option, the SLT includes RS232 serial port that allows apparatus to communicate with a personal robot. In mode, can the apparatus that specify the wash to and the SLT 96PW can
 a particle motion ghost and coMbining or “bLendiNg” tHe “pSeUdo” pArtiCle motion data wITh thE actual recorded particlE motiOn DAta sUCh That tHe influENcE OF thE cAbLe nOiSE iS miniMizEd.
HowevEr, since sucH meThOds do not estiMAtE the cable nOisE itself they iMplIcitly DiSreGArd thE goOd sigNal undERlying The cable nOiSE and efFEctivelY RElY on hYdrophone data only AT lOW frequencies.
ThE preseNt INvENTioN is Directed to OvErcomINg, or at lEAsT REDucINg the effects oF, one or more oF The ProbleMs Set FOrth abOve. LaBoRAtoRy scientistS are Familiar wIth the MUlti-steP, Semi-manUal metHodS foR bioLOgIcAl cElL HarVEsTinG FroM biologiCaL fIlter PlatES AND the TedIous And laBorious effort InvOlveD In sO doinG. RecoGnizInG the nEed for An autOmAted biological cEll hArvesting AppArAtuS tO faciLItate tHis ProCedure, aPplicanTS haVe DEVElOped the novel apparaTuS DEsCribed heReinafTEr.
veRY signifiCaNtlY, appLICants DiscOVeRed that aN existINg MiCroplatE wAsher, MOdEl NO. SLt 96PW avAIlabLe from tecan USA, inc. of rEsearch TrianglE park, N.C., could be MOdIFIeD To acHieVe an entirelY uniNTendEd fuNCtIon AS an auTomatEd CElL Harvesting apparatus.
as Known tO thosE skilled in the Art, the SLT 96Pw MICroplate WashER iS A programmable mIcropLate washer WHich utilIzes aN internaL microproCESsor contRol To wAsh/AspIRAtE 96 well microplaTES. The mIlLIPORE BraNd 96 well mIcrOplAte Is a WeLl known brAnd of micRoPlAtE, aLthOugh oTHer pharmAcEutIcAl sUpporT CompanIes alSo diStRiBUte 96 Well micROpLATes.
IN iTs OrigInaL fOrm, thE SLT 96pw miCroplatE washer apParATus cOmPrIses a flUid pump connecTeD to a fluid dIsPenSing heAD, A vacuum sWitch to initiate aspiratiON, a fixed TraY for rEceiVing a micrOplAte to bE waSHed, and A microContrOlLer FOR contROLlIng ThE fluid dispENSinG and aSpIratIng sequEnce achieved by 96 pairS Of dIspense/aspiraTe tUbes PROvIdeD In THe dIsPEnsING head.
The microcoNtroller of ThE sLt 96PW microplATe wAsHer provIdes fleXibilITy to the Apparatus By allowinG fOr prOGRamMable variaTions in tHe soak and ASpiraTE tImes aS weLl as in ThE voLume aNd speeD Of fLuid dIspensInG. The waSh proCeSs in the SlT 96PW includes the followinG progrAmmabLe pArameters: The AMouNt of fluid To diSpense; the sOak TimE; the aSpiRAte tiMe; anD ThE nuMBer of TimeS The cycle sHOuLd bE REpEated for a miCROPlaTe. As aN opTIon, the sLT 96Pw includes a RS232 seriaL Interface port tHat aLLOws The APparAtUs to communicatE syNcHROnously wItH a personal cOmputer oR rOBot. In This moDe, commAnds can BE IsSUed to tHe apParAtus that sPecIfY The wash PrOgRAm to ruN, and ThE SLT 96PW Can
 a particle motion ghost a nd combini ng or  “b len di ng”the“pseudo” parti c le m otion data with the ac tualre c orde d  p artic le moti o nd a tasu ch  th at th e inf lue nce ofthe cablenoi se  is minimize d .However, s inc e such metho dsdo not  e sti m ate t hecable  noise itself  they imp li c itly d i sregard t he  goo d signal underlyi n gt he cable noise  and e ff e ct i v ely  re ly on hydr op honed ata onl y  a t l owf requencies.
T he presenti nve ntionis  di r ectedto ov er c omi ng, or at l east  reducing  the e f fects o f , one o r more  of  th e pr o bl em s s et for t habo v e.Laborato ry  s cient ists a r e  fam ili ar w ith t he multi-step , s emi- m anu al me thods  for  b iolog ical c ell h ar vesting from bi olog ical filt erpl ate sand t h e tedi ous  an d labor ious ef f ort  i n v o lv ed in so doing. Re co g n iz ing theneed f o ran automate dbio logi c a l cel l ha r ve sting ap paratu s  t ofacilit at e this  p roc edu re, a p plic ants h ave deve loped the novel appa r atus describe d  h e r ei n afte r.Very signif ican t ly,appl i ca nts disco vered  t h at an existing micropl at e wash er, M odel No. SLT96PW avail a b l e from T ecan US A , Inc. of Rese archTriangle P a rk, N.C. , cou ld be mo dified to a chieve a n e nti rel y u n i nt ended functio n as a nautomat edcell ha rve sti ngapp ar atus.
Asknown to  t ho se  s kil led i n  the art ,the  S LT96PWm icropl ate w ashe ris a p rogramm a bl e micr op la te w ash er  whic h ut i liz es an i nternal m icr o proc es so r contr ol to wash/as pi rate 96 we ll  mi cropla t e s. The M ILLIPORE brand 96 wellm icropla teis awell  known br and  of mi cro p late,althou gh ot he r p h a rmace u t ic alsu pport comp a n ies  also  d istr ibute 9 6 well microplates . 
In  its original  fo rm,t h eSLT 96 P W m ic r opl a t e washer appara tus compri se s  a  fluid pum p  co nn ected t o a flu id di s pensing  head, avacuum sw it ch t o ini tiate aspi ration,a fixed t r ay fo r  r eceiv ing  a mic ro pla te to  be wa s hed , and  a mic ro contro llerfo r contro lling the fluid dispens ing an d asp ira ting sequ enc e  ac hieved by  96pairs of d isp ens e/asp ira t e tub es p r ov ide d  in t he d i spensingh ea d.T h emicrocontro l l e r o f the  SL T  96PWmicr oplate washer pro v ides flexibili ty t o the  ap p arat us  by allowing f orpr o g rammable  v ariations i n the so ak and a spirat e time s as we l l  a s  in th e vo lum e and spe edof fluid d is pe n sing.Thewa sh pro cess i n  the S LT 96PW includes  thef o llowi n g p rogra mm able pa r amet ers: the a mount of fl uid to  dis pense ; the s oa k time ; t he  aspiratet ime; andthe n umber o ftime s t he cyc le s h o uld b e re pe ate d for a m i c ro p la te .  As  anoptio n,  the  SLT 96PW includes  aR S232 se ri ali n terfac e  p o r t that all ows  thea p paratus to comm u ni c ate s ynchro nously  with a per so nal com put e r  or robot . In this mod e,  com mands ca nbe i ss ued  t o the apparatus  that sp ecify th e wash p rog r am t o  run,an d the SLT 96 PW ca n
 a_particle motion_ghost and combining or_“blending” the_“pseudo”_particle motion_data_with the actual_recorded particle motion_data such that the_influence of the_cable_noise is minimized.
However, since such methods do not estimate the cable noise itself they_implicitly_disregard the_good_signal_underlying the cable noise and_effectively rely on hydrophone data_only at_low frequencies.
The present invention is directed to overcoming,_or_at least reducing_the effects of, one or more of the problems_set forth above. Laboratory scientists are_familiar with the_multi-step,_semi-manual_methods for biological cell_harvesting from biological filter plates and_the tedious and laborious effort involved_in so doing. Recognizing the need for_an automated biological cell harvesting apparatus_to facilitate this procedure, applicants_have developed_the novel apparatus described hereinafter.
Very_significantly, applicants discovered_that an_existing microplate washer,_Model No. SLT 96PW available from_Tecan USA, Inc._of Research Triangle Park, N.C., could_be_modified to achieve_an_entirely_unintended function_as an automated_cell_harvesting apparatus.
As_known_to those skilled in the art,_the_SLT 96PW microplate washer is a programmable_microplate washer which utilizes_an_internal microprocessor control to_wash/aspirate 96 well microplates. The_MILLIPORE brand 96 well microplate is_a well_known brand_of microplate, although other pharmaceutical support companies also distribute 96 well_microplates.
In its original form, the SLT_96PW microplate washer apparatus_comprises a_fluid_pump connected to_a_fluid dispensing_head, a vacuum switch to initiate aspiration,_a fixed_tray for receiving a microplate to_be washed, and a_microcontroller_for controlling the fluid dispensing and_aspirating sequence achieved by 96 pairs_of dispense/aspirate tubes provided in_the_dispensing_head.
The microcontroller of the SLT_96PW microplate washer provides flexibility to_the apparatus by_allowing for programmable variations in the soak_and_aspirate times as well as in_the_volume and speed of fluid dispensing._The_wash_process in the SLT 96PW_includes the following programmable parameters: the_amount of fluid to dispense; the soak time; the_aspirate time; and_the number of times the_cycle_should_be repeated for a microplate. As an option, the SLT_96PW includes_a RS232 serial_interface port that allows the apparatus to communicate synchronously with_a personal computer or robot. In this_mode, commands can be issued to the apparatus that specify the_wash program to run, and the SLT 96PW_can