Systems and methods for fluid and component handling

• US 10,012,664 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Labrador Diagnostics LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Theranos IP Company, LLC
• Inventors: Wasson, James, Frankovich, John Kent, Holmes, Elizabeth A., Smith, Timothy, Chen, Michael, Young, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): BOWERS, NATHAN ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US14/157,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20140234949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/023 adapted for different sizes of tubes, tips or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0893 having a very large number of wells, microfabricated wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0279 co-operating with positive ejection means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5021 Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes centrifuges B04B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50855 using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00495 Centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0094 optimisation; experiment design
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 : Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 : having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 : Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 : Multiple transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Claims

1. A method for transporting a sample processing component in a sample processing device, the method comprising:

engaging the sample processing component with at least a first nozzle and a second nozzle of a fluid handling apparatus, the fluid handling apparatus comprising at least a first pipette head and a second pipette head, the first pipette head comprising the first nozzle and the second pipette head comprising the second nozzle, and wherein the sample processing component is at a first location in the device prior to being engaged by the first and second nozzle; and

transporting by the fluid handling apparatus the engaged sample processing component to a second location in the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid handling apparatus further comprises a third pipette head, the third pipette head comprising a third nozzle, and wherein the sample processing component is not engaged with the third nozzle when the sample processing component is transported by the fluid handling apparatus.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third pipette heads are arranged in a configuration, and wherein the first and second pipette heads are separated from each other in the configuration by at least the third pipette head.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disengaging the sample processing component from the first nozzle and the second nozzle at the second location in the device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

after disengaging the sample processing component, engaging a pipette tip with the first nozzle of the fluid handling apparatus; and

aspirating a liquid into or dispensing a liquid from the pipette tip.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the configuration is a row.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pipette head contains a fluid path which terminates at the first pipette nozzle, and the first pipette head contains a plunger which is movable along at least a portion of the fluid path.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample processing component is a cuvette carrier or a strip of vessels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid handling apparatus further comprises a component removal mechanism for disengaging the sample processing component from at least one of the pipette nozzles.

10. A method of handling components in a sample processing device comprising a fluid handling apparatus, the method comprising:

engaging a pipette tip with a first nozzle of the fluid handling apparatus, the fluid handling apparatus comprising at least the first nozzle and a second nozzle;

disengaging the pipette tip from the first nozzle;

engaging simultaneously a first pick-up interface of a cuvette with the first nozzle and a second pick-up interface of the cuvette with the second nozzle, wherein the cuvette comprises i) the first pick-up interface and the second pick-up interface, each interface being configured to engage a nozzle of the fluid handling apparatus, and ii) at least a first cavity and a second cavity, each cavity being configured to accept a fluid;

transporting the engaged cuvette; and

disengaging the cuvette from the first and second nozzle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, after engaging and before disengaging the pipette tip from the first nozzle, aspirating a liquid into or dispensing a liquid from the pipette tip.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein, prior to being engaged, the cuvette is in a first location in the device, and after being disengaged, the cuvette is in a second location in the device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second location is a spectrophotometer.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein, prior to being engaged, the pipette tip is in a cartridge in the sample processing device, the cartridge being insertable into the sample processing device, and after being disengaged, the pipette tip is in the same cartridge.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the fluid handling apparatus further comprises a third nozzle, and wherein the cuvette is not engaged with the third nozzle when the first pick-up interface of the cuvette is engaged by the first nozzle and the second pick-up interface of the cuvette is engaged by the second nozzle.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first pick-up interface is at least a portion of the first cavity of the cuvette.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first pick-up interface is separate from both the first cavity and second cavity of the cuvette.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity of the cuvette are fluidically linked.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity of the cuvette are fluidically isolated.