Sample processing apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- (a) an input element, (b) a movably mounted holding device for holding a plurality of support housings, said device being adapted to receive a support housing from said input element and adapted to index each support housing for a predetermined operation, each of said support housings containing a support having attached thereto a plurality of biopolymer features, (c) one or more processing stations, and (d) an output element adapted to receive a support housing from said holding device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for processing samples on the surface of supports that are contained in support housings. Biopolymer features are attached to the surfaces of the supports. An apparatus comprises an input element, a holding device for holding a plurality of support housings, one or more fluid dispensing stations, and an output element. Each of the support housings contains a support having attached thereto a plurality of biopolymer features. The holding device is movably mounted with respect to other components of the apparatus. The holding device is adapted to receive a support housing from the input element. The output element is adapted to receive a support housing from the holding device. The apparatus is adapted to index each support housing for a predetermined operation. In use, each of the support housings is moved to one or more processing stations by means of the movable holding device. The location and identity of each of the support housings is indexed. Fluid is applied to the surface of each of the supports at the processing stations to process the samples. Each of the support housings is moved away from the fluid dispensing stations, and fluid is physically removed from each of the supports within the support housings.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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(a) an input element, (b) a movably mounted holding device for holding a plurality of support housings, said device being adapted to receive a support housing from said input element and adapted to index each support housing for a predetermined operation, each of said support housings containing a support having attached thereto a plurality of biopolymer features, (c) one or more processing stations, and (d) an output element adapted to receive a support housing from said holding device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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(a) an input element, the input element comprising a plurality of package holders, the input element being adapted for temperature control, (b) a circuitous transport for holding a plurality of packages, each of which contains a support, the surface of which has attached thereto a plurality of polynucleotide features, the circuitous transport being adapted to receive a package from the input element and adapted to index each package for a predetermined operation, (c) an element for identifying each of the packages, (d) an element for accessing the packages, (e) one or more fluid dispensing stations adapted to dispense fluids to, and aspirate fluids from, the supports in the packages on said circuitous transport, (f) a device for physically removing unbound materials from the surface of a support within each of the packages, the device being adapted for receiving a package from the circuitous transport, and (g) an output element adapted to receive a package from the circuitous transport, the output element comprising a plurality of package holders. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus comprising:
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(a) an input element mounted on a frame, the input element comprising a plurality of shelves, the input element being adapted for temperature control, (b) a circular tray for holding a plurality of packages, each of which contains a support, the surface of which has attached thereto a plurality of polynucleotide features, the circular tray being movably mounted on the frame and being adapted to receive a package from the input element and adapted to index each package for a predetermined operation, each of the packages comprising a cover and an identification code, (c) a device, mounted on the frame, for reading the identification code on each of the packages, (d) an device, mounted on the frame, for removing the cover on each of the packages, (e) one or more fluid dispensing stations mounted on the frame and adapted to dispense fluids to, and aspirate fluids from, the supports in the packages on the circular tray, (f) a device adapted to remove unbound materials on the surface of a support within each of the packages, the device being mounted on the frame and adapted for receiving a package from the circular tray, (g) an output element mounted on the frame and adapted to receive a package from the circular tray, the output element comprising a plurality of shelves, and (h) a central microprocessor-based or microcontroller-based module connected to a plurality of interface modules for controlling elements (a)-(g). - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for processing a plurality of samples each of which are present on a support contained within a support housing, the method comprising:
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(a) moving each of the support housings to one or more fluid dispensing stations, wherein the surface of each of the supports comprises a plurality of biopolymer features and wherein the location and identity of each of the support housings is indexed, (b) applying fluid to the surface of each of the supports at the fluid dispensing stations for processing the samples, (c) aspirating fluid from the surface of each of the supports at the fluid dispensing stations, (d) moving each of the support housings away from the fluid dispensing stations, and (e) physically removing residual fluid from each of the supports within the support housings. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for processing a plurality of samples each of which are present on a support contained in a covered package, the method comprising:
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(a) moving each of the covered packages from an input element to a movable holding device for holding a plurality of the covered packages, wherein the surface of each of the supports comprises a plurality of polynucleotide features and wherein the input element provides temperature control and wherein the location and identity of each of the covered packages is continuously indexed, (b) moving the holding device in an indexed manner to move the covered packages to a device for removing covers from the covered packages, (c) moving the holding device in an indexed manner to deliver each of the packages to one or more fluid dispensing stations, (d) moving the holding device to deliver each of the packages to a device for physically removing unbound materials from the surface of each of the supports, and (e) moving the holding device in an indexed manner to deliver each of the packages to an output element. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An apparatus comprising:
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(a) a frame, (b) an input element affixed to the frame, (c) a holding device for holding a plurality of support housings, the device being adapted to receive a support housing from the input element and adapted to index each support housing for a predetermined operation, the device being movably mounted on the frame, each of the support housings containing a support having attached thereto a plurality of biopolymer features, (d) one or more fluid dispensing stations affixed to the frame, and (e) an output element affixed to the frame, the output element being adapted to receive a support housing from the holding device, wherein said elements (a)-(e) are each controlled by a central microprocessor-based or microcontroller-based module connected to a plurality of interface modules,-, wherein the modules are interconnected by a multi-channel shared bus originating at and supervised by a system controller, which interfaces with a front panel display and operator controls. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. An apparatus comprising:
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(a) a frame, (b) an input element affixed to the frame, (c) a holding device for holding a plurality of support housings, the device being adapted to receive a support housing from the input element and adapted to index each support housing for a predetermined operation, the device being movably mounted on the frame, each of the support housings containing a support having attached thereto a plurality of biopolymer features, (d) one or more fluid dispensing stations affixed to the frame, and (e) an output element affixed to the frame, the output element being adapted to receive a support housing from the holding device, wherein each of said elements (b)-(e) are controlled by one of a plurality of microprocessor-based or microcontroller-based modules, each comprising an individual architectural design and software wherein the individual architectural design and the software are adapted specifically to control a function that each of the modules serves, wherein the modules are interconnected by a multi-channel shared bus originating at and supervised by a central system controller, which interfaces with a front panel display and operator controls. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. A method of exposing an array of biopolymers to a fluid wherein the array is contained in a housing having a cover, said method comprising:
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(a) removing the cover of the housing to expose an opening thereof and (b) applying fluid to the array through the opening. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification