Apparatus for and method of processing biological samples

• US 10,434,509 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Amshey, Joseph, Bezdek, Daniel, Kahatt, Espir, Khorlin, Alexander, Parsons, Lance, Peterson, Todd, Powers, Timothy, Thacker, Michael, Updyke, Timothy, Zgonc, Kornelija
• Primary Examiner(s): Nagpaul, Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US15/719,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20180111121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/088 Channel loops
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0605 check valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00306 Housings, cabinets, control panels (details)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1037 Using surface tension, e.g. pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention provides systems, devices, apparatuses and methods for automated bioprocessing. Examples of protocols and bioprocessing procedures suitable for the present invention include but are not limited to: immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, recombinant protein isolation, nucleic acid separation and isolation, protein labeling, separation and isolation, cell separation and isolation, food safety analysis and automatic bead based separation. In some embodiments, the invention provides automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods of western blot processing. Other embodiments include automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods for separation, preparation and purification of nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA or fragments thereof, including plasmid DNA, genomic DNA, bacterial DNA, viral DNA and any other DNA, and for automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods for processing, separation and purification of proteins, peptides and the like.

Claims

1. A bioprocessing cartridge comprising:

a first bioprocessing chamber, wherein the first bioprocessing chamber includes a first solid support, and wherein the first solid support is configured to filter debris from cell lysate;

a second bioprocessing chamber, wherein the second bioprocessing chamber includes a second solid support, and wherein the second solid support is configured to reversibly bind nucleic acids;

a plurality of fluid channels in fluid communication with the first and second bioprocessing chambers;

one or more reagent reservoirs, wherein the one or more reagent reservoirs are in fluid communication with one or more of the first and second bioprocessing chambers; and

at least one cartridge alignment guide.

2. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first solid support is a cell lysate clarification filter.

3. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 2, wherein the cell lysate clarification filter is a glass fiber cell lysate clarification filter.

4. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 1, wherein the second solid support comprises a solid phase extraction disk, cassette or filter.

5. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 4, wherein the filter comprises an anion exchange membrane or a silica membrane.

6. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 1, wherein the second solid support comprises a plurality of beads.

7. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a third bioprocessing chamber, wherein the third bioprocessing chamber includes a third solid support, and wherein the third solid support is configured to separate cells from cell culture media.

8. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 7, wherein the third solid support is a cell separation filter.

9. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 7, further comprising:

a fourth bioprocessing chamber, wherein the fourth bioprocessing chamber includes a fourth solid support, and wherein the fourth solid support is configured to capture nucleic acids eluted from the second solid support.

10. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 9, wherein the fourth solid support is a precipitation filter.

11. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a wash buffer reservoir, wherein the wash buffer reservoir contains a wash buffer configured for removal of endotoxins.

12. The bioprocessing cartridge of claim 11, wherein the wash buffer includes a non-ionic detergent.