Plate alignment and sample transfer indicia for a multiwell multiplate stack and method for processing biological/chemical samples using the same

• US 20030008412A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pall Corporation (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ciphergen Biosystems Incorporated
• Inventors: Lu, Hong, Woods, Ernest J. III, Coffman, Jonathan L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,273,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50255 Multi-well filtration
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/388 mixing the sample with a tracer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00277 Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00485 combined with sample carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Device and method for processing samples are provided. A first multiwell plate is stacked atop a second multiwell plate. The first multiwell plate has x wells arranged in an array, each well is capable of receiving a sample and has an outlet. The second multiwell plate has y wells arranged in an array, each well being capable of receiving a separate sample. y>x. The outlets of the first multiwell plate register with inlets of a subset of wells of the second multiwell plate when the first plate is stacked atop the second plate. Also provided are a mechanism for aligning the plates and transfer indicia for tracking transfer of sample from the first to the second plate. A mechanism for sealing the first plate to the second plate is provided so that samples can be directly transferred between the plates without cross-contamination occurring in open wells of the second plate.

Claims

1. A device for processing biological/chemical samples comprising:

a first multiwell plate having x wells arranged in an array, wherein each well of said x wells is adapted to receive a separate sample;

a second multiwell plate having y wells arranged in an array, wherein each well of said y wells is adapted to receive a separate sample; and

transfer indicia for indicating transfer of sample from said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate, wherein said transfer indicia is disposed within said first multiwell plate, and wherein said transfer indicia is adapted to be transferred from said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate with transfer of sample therebetween.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said transfer indicia comprises color indicia.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each well of said x wells of said first multiwell plate has an outlet at a lower surface of the first multiwell plate, wherein said outlets at the lower surface of said first multiwell plate are arranged to register with corresponding inlets of x′

wells of said y wells of said second multiwell plate when said first multiwell plate is stacked atop said second multiwell plate, wherein y≧

x and x′

=x, and wherein said transfer indicia comprises means for tracking transfer of samples from wells of said first multiwell plate to wells of said second multiwell plate and simultaneously for indicating whether cross-contamination has occurred between wells of said second multiwell plate.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said transfer indicia comprises inert color indicia disposed within at least one well of said first multiwell plate, wherein said inert color indicia is adapted to be transferred from said at least one well of said first multiwell plate to at least one well of said second multiwell plate with transfer of samples from said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein y=(x×

n) and n≧

2, wherein said device further comprises n first multiwell plates each having x wells arranged in an array, wherein each of said x wells of said n first multiwell plates is adapted to receive a separate sample and contains a unique color indicia, wherein said unique color indicia of each first multiwell plate is inert and is adapted to be transferred from said x wells of said n first multiwell plates to corresponding x′

wells of said second multiwell plate upon transfer of samples from said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein n=4, wherein said four first multiwell plates comprise four unique color indicia, wherein said four unique color indicia comprise red indicia, yellow indicia, green indicia, and blue indicia, wherein each unique color indicia is inert and is contained within a different first multiwell plate, wherein each first multiwell plate of said four first multiwell plates is adapted to transfer samples to a different quadrant of wells of said y wells of said second multiwell plate, and wherein said red, yellow, green and blue indicia are adapted to be transferred, respectively, from said four first multiwell plates to said second multiwell plate with transfer of sample therebetween.

7. The device of claim 3, further comprising:

means for aligning said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate so that said x wells of said first multiwell plate automatically align to said x′

wells of said second multiwell plate when said first multiwell plate is stacked atop said second multiwell plate using said means for aligning.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said means for aligning comprises first alignment indicia on said first multiwell plate and corresponding second alignment indicia on said second multiwell plate, wherein aligning of said first alignment indicia and said second alignment indicia when stacking said first multiwell plate atop said second multiwell plate facilitates said automatic aligning of said x wells of said first multiwell plate to said x′

wells of said second multiwell plate.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said first alignment indicia and said corresponding second alignment indicia comprise matching color indicia.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said x wells of said first multiwell plate comprise 96-wells and said y wells of said second multiwell plate comprise 384-wells.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said means for aligning further comprises an alignment guide coupled to either said first multiwell plate or said second multiwell plate so that said x wells of said first multiwell plate automatically align to said x′

wells of said second multiwell plate when said first multiwell plate is stacked atop said second multiwell plate using said alignment guide.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said alignment guide is coupled to said first multiwell plate and said first alignment indicia is disposed near said alignment guide.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said first multiwell plate and said second multiwell plate have a common shape and similar size, wherein said alignment guide is disposed at a corner of said first multiwell plate and extends downward therefrom for aligning thereof to a corner of said second multiwell plate, and wherein said corresponding second alignment indicia is provided at said corner of said second multiwell plate.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said first multiwell plate and said second multiwell plate have a common rectangular shape, wherein said x wells of said first multiwell plate comprise 96-wells and said y wells of said second multiwell plate comprise 384-wells, wherein said means for aligning comprises multiple second alignment indicia on said second multiwell plate, and wherein each of said second alignment indicia is disposed at a different corner of said second multiwell plate.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising four first multiwell plates each having x wells arranged in an array, wherein each well of said x wells is adapted to receive a separate sample and has an outlet in a lower surface of the first multiwell plate, wherein each multiwell plate of said four first multiwell plates has said common shape and similar size, wherein said means for aligning comprises four alignment guides, and wherein each alignment guide is coupled to a different first multiwell plate so that said x wells of each first multiwell plate align to a different quadrant of said 384-wells of said second multiwell plate when the first multiwell plate is stacked atop said second multiwell plate using the alignment guide.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said means for aligning further comprises:

four first alignment indicia on said four first multiwell plates, wherein each first alignment indicia is disposed near a different alignment guide coupled to one of said four first multiwell plates; and

four second alignment indicia on said second multiwell plate,

wherein each first alignment indicia has a corresponding second alignment indicia on said second multiwell plate for facilitating aligning of each first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein each first alignment indicia and corresponding second alignment indicia comprise matching color indicia.

18. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

means for sealing said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate when said first multiwell plate is stacked atop said second multiwell plate so that samples can be transferred from said x wells of said first multiwell plate to said x′

wells of said second multiwell plate without cross-contamination occurring between wells of said second multiwell plate.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of (a) providing a first multiwell plate comprises the step of:

providing said first multiwell plate so that each well of said x wells has a filter, wherein said transfer indicia comprises color indicia,

and wherein said step of (c) providing inert transfer indicia comprises the steps of;

providing liquid color indicia within said at least one well of said x wells of said first multiwell plate;

allowing said liquid color indicia to dry on the filters of said at least one well of said x wells; and

introducing sample into wells of said x wells of said first multiwell plate.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of (c) providing inert transfer indicia further comprises:

providing transfer indicia within each well of said x wells of said first multiwell plate.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of (a) providing a first multiwell plate comprises:

providing said first multiwell plate so that each well of said x wells has an outlet at a lower surface of said first multiwell plate,

wherein said step of (b) providing a second multiwell plate comprises;

providing said second multiwell plate with y wells so that y≧

x,

wherein said outlets at the lower surface of the first multiwell plate are arrayed to register with corresponding inlets of x′

wells of said second multiwell plate when said first multiwell plate is stacked atop said second multiwell plate, wherein x′

=x, and wherein said method further comprises;

(g) stacking said first multiwell plate atop said second multiwell plate with said outlets of said x wells of said first multiwell plate registering with said corresponding inlets of said x′

wells of said second multiwell plate, said stacking occurring prior to said step of (d) transferring sample from said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein each of said x′

wells of said second multiwell plate has an outlet at a lower surface of said second multiwell plate, and wherein said step of (d) transferring sample from said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate comprises;

applying a vacuum to said outlets of said second multiwell plate to draw samples from said first multiwell plate into and through said second multiwell plate.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said second multiwell plate comprises a purification plate, wherein said step of (d) transferring sample from said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate comprises:

purifying said samples transferred into said x′

wells of said purification plate simultaneous with said samples being drawn therethrough,

and wherein said color indicia transfers from said first multiwell plate into said second multiwell plate with transfer of sample therebetween.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said first multiwell plate comprises a 96-well plate and said second multiwell plate comprises a 384-well plate, wherein said step (a) providing a first multiwell plate further comprises:

providing three additional 96-well plates,

wherein said step (c) providing inert transfer indicia comprises;

providing a unique color indicia for each 96-well plate so that said transferring (d) of sample from each 96-well plate includes simultaneous tracking of said unique color indicia associated therewith.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

(h) creating a seal between the lower surface of said first multiwell plate and an upper surface of said second multiwell plate upon said stacking of said first multiwell plate atop said second multiwell plate,

wherein said seal is adapted to inhibit cross-contamination between wells of said second multiwell plate during said transferring of samples from said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate.

19. A method for processing biological/chemical samples comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first multiwell plate having x wells arranged in an array, wherein each well of said x wells is adapted to receive a separate sample;

(b) providing a second multiwell plate having y wells arranged in an array, wherein each well of said y wells is adapted to receive a sample;

(c) providing inert transfer indicia within at least one well of said x wells of said first multiwell plate;

(d) transferring sample from said first multiwell plate to said second multiwell plate, said transferring including transferring said transfer indicia from said at least one well of said first multiwell plate to at least one well of said second multiwell plate;

(e) monitoring for cross-contamination between wells of said second multiwell plate using said transfer indicia; and

(f) tracking the transfer of sample from said at least one well of said first multiwell plate to said at least one well of said second multiwell plate using said transfer indicia.