Multi-well apparatus

• US 20020125197A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exelixis Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Exelixis Incorporated
• Inventors: Morrissey, Michael, Kearney, Patrick, Leahy, James W., Mercer, Robert D., Donaldson, Jeffrey D., Swartwood, Troy M., Keller, Douglas O., Hager, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,852,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/739
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00283 Reactor vessels with top opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00286 Reactor vessels with top and bottom openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00313 the reactor vessels being formed by arrays of wells in blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00315 Microtiter plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00319 the blocks being mounted in stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00333 Closures attached to the reactor vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00416 Vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00418 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00423 using filtration, e.g. through porous frits
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00599 Solution-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50255 Multi-well filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/563 Joints or fittings in general F16L; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5635 connecting two containers face to face, e.g. comprising a filter
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 50/08 Liquid phase synthesis, i.e. wherein all library building blocks are in liquid phase or in solution during library creation; Particular methods of cleavage from the liquid support
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A multi-well assembly according to one embodiment comprises a multi-well block and a guide plate. The multi-well block defines a plurality of wells, with each well having a fluid-impermeable bottom surface. The guide plate defines a plurality of fluid passageways corresponding to the wells of the multi-well block. The guide plate is configured such that, whenever the guide plate is registered with the multi-well block, fluid communication is established between each well and an associated fluid passageway.

Claims

1. A multi-well assembly, comprising:

a multi-well block having a plurality of wells, each well having a fluid-impermeable bottom surface; and

a guide plate defining a plurality of fluid passageways, each fluid passageway corresponding to a respective well of the multi-well block, the guide plate being configured such that, whenever the guide plate is registered with the multi-well block, fluid communication is established between each well and an associated fluid passageway.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide plate has upwardly extending projections that open the bottom surfaces of the wells whenever the guide plate is registered with the multi-well block.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each projection is configured to perforate the bottom surface of a well.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each projection is formed with a longitudinally extending passageway.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a filter disposed in each well.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a filter disposed in each fluid passageway.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle block having a plurality of wells each corresponding to a respective fluid passageway of the guide plate such that, whenever the receptacle block is registered with the guide plate and the guide plate is registered with the multi-well block, fluid communication is established between each well of the multi-well block, a respective fluid passageway of the guide plate, and a respective well of the receptacle block.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cover for covering the open tops of the wells of the multi-well block.

9. A multi-well assembly comprising:

a first plate having a plurality of wells; and

a second plate having a plurality of upwardly extending fluid conduits;

whereby, whenever the first plate is registered with the second plate, each fluid conduit extends upwardly into a respective well to receive fluid therefrom.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein:

each well has a fluid-tight bottom surface; and

whenever the first plate is registered with the second plate, each fluid conduit perforates a bottom surface of a respective well so that the fluid conduit is in fluid communication with the well.

11. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a receptacle block having a plurality of containers, each container being registerable with a respective fluid conduit of the second plate for receiving and collecting fluid from the second plate.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein, whenever the first plate is registered with the second plate, each well and a corresponding fluid conduit define a substantially fluid-tight passageway.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein each fluid conduit comprises a respective projection formed with a longitudinally extending channel.

14. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the second plate comprises an upwardly extending wall circumscribing each fluid conduit, each wall being configured to matingly fit around a lower portion of a respective well whenever the first plate is registered with the second plate.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for fluidly connecting each fluid passageway with a corresponding well comprises a plurality of upwardly extending projections configured to perforate the lower surfaces of the respective wells whenever the guide tray is registered with the multi-well device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a respective filter disposed in each well.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the guide tray further comprises an upwardly extending wall circumscribing each fluid passageway, each wall being configured to press-fit around a lower portion of a respective well whenever the guide tray is registered with the multi-well device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a receptacle block comprising a plurality of wells each corresponding to a respective fluid passageway of the guide tray such that, whenever the receptacle block is registered with the guide tray and the guide tray is registered with the multi-well device, fluid communication is established between each well of the multi-well device, a respective fluid passageway of the guide tray, and a respective well of the receptacle block.

15. A multi-well testing apparatus, comprising:

a multi-well device comprising a plurality of wells each having a fluid-impervious lower surface; and

a guide tray comprising a plurality of fluid passageways, each fluid passageway corresponding to a well of the multi-well device, the guide tray comprising means for fluidly connecting each fluid passageway with a corresponding well whenever the guide tray is registered with the multi-well device.

20. A guide plate for use with a multi-well device, the guide plate comprising:

a body having upper and lower major surfaces;

a plurality of projections depending from the upper major surface;

a plurality of outlet spouts depending from the lower major surface, each outlet spout being positioned below a respective projection; and

a respective fluid passageway extending through each projection and outlet spout.

21. The guide plate of claim 20, further comprising a respective upwardly extending wall concentrically disposed about each projection.

22. The guide plate of claim 20, further comprising a respective downwardly extending wall concentrically disposed about each outlet spout.

23. The guide plate of claim 20, wherein each projection defines a respective cutting surface.

25. The guide plate of claim 24, wherein each projection defines a passageway to receive the contents of a corresponding well of the multi-well device.

26. The guide plate of claim 25, wherein each projection is formed generally in the shape of an ungula.

27. The guide plate of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of upstanding walls, each surrounding a respective projection and being configured to matingly fit around a bottom portion of a corresponding well of the multi-well device.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising registering a receptacle plate with the guide plate to collect the products of the chemical reactions flowing from the passageways.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing respective filters in the wells for filtering the reagents.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising creating a pressure differential across the passageways to facilitate the flow of the respective products of the respective chemical reactions through the passageways.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein registering the guide plate with the multi-well device comprises pressing the guide plate and the multi-well device together using a pressing apparatus.

24. A guide plate for use with a multi-well device having a plurality of wells, the guide plate comprising:

a body having first and second major surfaces; and

a plurality of projections depending from one of the first and second major surfaces, each projection being configured to perforate the bottom surface of a respective well of the multi-well device.

28. A method of carrying out multiple chemical reactions, the method comprising:

providing a multi-well device comprising a plurality of wells having fluid-impervious bottom surfaces;

providing a guide plate defining a plurality of passageways corresponding to the wells;

introducing reagents into the wells to initiate respective chemical reactions in the wells; and

registering the guide plate with the multi-well device so that each well is in flow-through communication with a respective passageway to permit products of the respective chemical reactions to flow through the passageways.