Instrument for analyzing biological samples and reagents

• US 10,620,226 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LGC Genomics Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Douglas Scientific LLC
• Inventors: Cook, Darren Lynn, Johnson, Eric Guy, Westad, Nathan Luther, Haug, Andrew Richard, Konynenbelt, James Henry, Maasjo, Grant Edward, Patterson, Jared Whittier, Urke, Brent Conrad, Zitzmann, Ryan John, Smith, Chad Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Brian R
• Application Number:
  US15/500,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20170219614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0812 Bands; Tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/14 Means for pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00148 Test cards, e.g. Biomerieux or McDonnel multiwell test cards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00346 Heating or cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00366 Several different temperatures used
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00376 Conductive heating, e.g. heated plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00445 Other cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0422 : carried on a linear conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 : Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 : Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1076 : plurality or independently movable heads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 : provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 : provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• 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 35/1004 : Cleaning sample transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 : Multiple transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1072 : with provision for selective pipetting of individual channels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1074 : arranged in a two-dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/109 : with two horizontal degrees of freedom

Abstract

An instrument for processing a biological sample includes a chassis. Connected to the chassis is a tape path along which a tape with a matrix of wells can be automatically advanced through the instrument, a dispensing assembly for dispensing the biological sample and a reagent into the matrix of wells of the tape to form a biological sample and reagent mixture, a sealing assembly for sealing the biological sample and reagent mixture in the tape, and an amplification and detection assembly for detecting a signal from the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells in the tape.

Claims

1. An instrument for processing a biological sample, the instrument comprising:

a dispensing assembly configured and arranged for aspirating and dispensing the biological sample and a reagent into a matrix of wells of a tape to form a biological sample and reagent mixture;

a sealing assembly configured and arranged for sealing the biological sample and reagent mixture in the tape;

an amplification and detection assembly configured and arranged for detecting a signal from the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells in the tape, wherein the amplification and detection assembly includes;

a thermal unit configured and arranged to control the temperature of the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells of the tape, the thermal unit comprising a plurality of cavities configured to receive respective wells of the matrix of wells, each cavity sized such that an exterior surface of a well forms a solid contact with an interior surface of the cavity; and

a pressure chamber mounted on the thermal unit to pressurize an area over the tape; and

a tape path assembly configured and arranged to advance the tape with the matrix of wells between the dispensing assembly, sealing assembly and amplification and detection assembly.

2. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising an analytics system to analyze the signal that is detected from the biological sample and reagent mixture by the amplification and detection assembly.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the thermal unit is configured to control the temperature of the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells of the tape for enabling isothermal amplification and polymerase chain reaction.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the thermal unit includes:

a heat pump;

a first layer comprising the plurality of cavities configured to receive the respective wells of the matrix of wells; and

a second layer positions between the heat pump and first layer such that heat can be exchanged between the heat pump and the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells through the first and second layers.

5. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising the tape with the matrix of wells, wherein the matrix of wells includes a first matrix of wells interlaced with a second matrix of wells in an offset pattern.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the tape path assembly defines a tape path along which the tape is advanced between the dispensing assembly, sealing assembly and amplification and detection assembly.

7. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising a plate rack configured to hold one or more plates containing the biological sample or the reagent to be aspirated and dispensed.

8. The instrument of claim 7, further comprising a plate stacker configured to lift a plate out of the plate rack.

9. The instrument of claim 8, further comprising a plate shuttle with a platform on which the plate stacker can place the plate from the plate rack, the plate shuttle configured to position the platform for aspirating or dispensing.

10. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising at least one wash assembly configured and arranged to wash portions of the dispensing assembly.

11. The instrument of claim 6, wherein the tape path assembly comprises a drive mechanism configured and arranged to automatically advance the tape along the tape path.

12. The instrument of claim 6, wherein the tape path assembly further comprises a tape infeed and tape cutter positioned adjacent a first end of the tape path.

13. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the pressure chamber comprises a heating element.

14. The instrument of claim 4, wherein the first layer is an aluminum layer and the second layer is a copper layer.

15. An instrument for processing a biological sample, the instrument comprising:

a dispensing assembly configured and arranged for aspirating and dispensing fluid into one or more wells of a tape;

a sealing assembly configured and arranged for sealing the one or more wells;

an amplification and detection assembly configured and arranged for detecting a signal from the one or more wells, wherein the amplification and detection assembly includes;

a thermal unit configured and arranged to control the temperature of content in the one or more wells of the tape, the thermal unit comprising a plurality of cavities configured to receive respective wells of the tape, each cavity sized such that an exterior surface of a well forms a solid contact with an interior surface of the cavity; and

a pressure chamber mounted on the thermal unit to pressurize an area over the tape,

a tape path assembly configured to advance the tape between the dispensing assembly, sealing assembly and amplification and detection assembly; and

at least one wash assembly configured and arranged to wash portions of the dispensing assembly.

16. The instrument of claim 15, further comprising the tape with the wells, wherein the wells include a first matrix of wells interlaced with a second matrix of wells in an offset pattern.

17. The instrument of claim 15, further comprising:

a plate rack configured to hold one or more plates containing the fluid to be aspirated and dispensed;

a plate stacker configured to lift a plate out of the plate rack; and

a plate shuttle including a platform on which the plate stacker can place the plate from the plate rack, the plate shuttle configured to position the platform for aspirating or dispensing.