Method for processing a nucleic acid sample by swinging a segment of a cartridge wall, a system and a cartridge for performing such a method

• US 20020164619A1
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems Inc (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems Inc (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Aeschilmann, Marcel, Vischer, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 6,872,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/44 Mixing of ingredients for microbiology, enzymology, in vitro culture or genetic manipulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/29 Mixing by periodically deforming flexible tubular members through which the material is flowing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0436 acoustic forces, e.g. surface acoustic waves [SAW]
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0475 specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00534 Mixing by a special element, e.g. stirrer

Abstract

A method for processing a nucleic acid sample contained in a liquid comprises: (a) introducing said liquid into a chamber (41) of a cartridge (42) which contains a chip shaped carrier (44) having an active surface (45) which carries an array of oligonucleotides, said active surface (45) facing the inner surface of a wall (46) of said cartridge,

said chamber (41) having a narrow interior and including a channel (43), a portion of said channel lying between said active surface (45) of said chip shaped carrier (44) and the inner surface of said wall (46),

a rigid segment (47) of said wall (46) being adapted to be swung of a predetermined angle back and forth about a torsion bar (59), swinging of that segment (47) in one sense moving one end thereof towards said active surface (45), and swinging of that segment (47) in the opposite sense moving said one end of that segment (47) away from said active surface (45),

(b) positioning said cartridge (42) into a cartridge holder (56) which holds said cartridge, said positioning being effected before or after introduction of said liquid containing a sample into said chamber (41), and

(c) swinging said rigid segment (47) of said wall (46) of said predetermined angle back and forth about said torsion bar (59) in order to cause relative motion of the liquid contained in said channel (43) with respect to said active surface (45) of said chip shaped carrier (44).

Claims

1. A method for processing a nucleic acid sample contained in a liquid, said method comprising

(a) introducing said sample into a chamber of a cartridge which contains a chip shaped carrier having an active surface which carries an array of oligonucleotides, said active surface facing an inner surface of a wall of said cartridge,

said chamber having a narrow interior and including a channel, a portion of said channel lying between said active surface of said chip shaped carrier and the inner surface of said wall,

a rigid segment of said wall being adapted to be swung about a predetermined angle back and forth about a torsion bar, swinging of said rigid segment in one sense moving one end thereof towards said active surface, and swinging of the rigid segment in an opposite sense moving said one end of the rigid segment away from said active surface,

(b) positioning said cartridge into a cartridge holder which holds said cartridge, said positioning being effected before or after introduction of said sample into said chamber, and

(c) swinging said rigid segment of said wall about said predetermined angle back and forth about said torsion bar in order to cause relative motion of the liquid sample contained in said channel with respect to said active surface of said chip shaped carrier.

2. A system for processing a nucleic acid sample contained in a liquid, said system comprising

(a) a cartridge for processing a liquid nucleic acid sample, said cartridge including

(a.1) a chip shaped carrier having an active surface which carries an array of oligonucleotides, said active surface facing an inner surface of a wall of said cartridge,

(a.2) a chamber having a narrow interior and including a channel, a portion of said channel lying between said active surface of said chip shaped carrier and the inner surface of said wall, and

(a.3) a rigid segment of said wall being adapted to be swung about a predetermined angle back and forth about a torsion bar, swinging of the rigid segment in one sense moving one end thereof towards said active surface, and swinging of the rigid segment in an opposite sense moving said one end of the rigid segment away from said active surface,

(b) a cartridge holder which is adapted to hold said cartridge in such a way that said active surface of said chip shaped carrier lies in a substantially vertical plane, and

(c) means for swinging said rigid segment of said wall of said predetermined angle back and forth about said torsion bar in order to cause relative motion of the liquid contained in said channel with respect to said active surface of said chip shaped carrier.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the cartridge is held by the cartridge holder in such a way that said active surface of said chip shaped carrier lies in a substantially vertical plane.

4. A cartridge for processing a nucleic acid sample contained in a liquid, said cartridge comprising

(a) a chip shaped carrier having an active surface which carries an array of oligonucleotides, said active surface facing an inner surface of a wall of said cartridge,

(b) a chamber having a narrow interior and including a channel, a portion of said channel lying between said active surface of said chip shaped carrier and the inner surface of said wall, and

(c) a rigid segment of said wall being adapted to be swung about a predetermined angle back and forth about a torsion bar, swinging of said rigid segment in one sense moving one end thereof towards said active surface, and swinging of said rigid segment in the opposite sense moving said one end of said rigid segment away from said active surface.