Apparatus for simultaneous processing of multiple samples

• US 20030035759A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Chemical Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: United Chemical Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: DʼAsaro, John A., Telepchak, Michael J., Coyne, Ann N., Hardee, Jay, Spraker, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 7,438,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/102
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00274 Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50255 Multi-well filtration

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for simultaneous processing of multiple fluid samples. The apparatus comprises a multiple well plate for holding a plurality of sample reservoirs for simultaneous processing of multiple samples. The wells are configured in the plate in staggered rows. The well plate is dimensioned to be compatible with a vacuum manifold or positive pressure system either as a stand-alone unit or in conjunction with a separate fluid handling system. The apparatus may further comprise a sample collection plate having the same number of wells as the multiple well plate. The wells in the samples collection plate are arranged in the same staggered configuration as the wells in the well plate and are sized for holding sample collection vials. When the well plate and sample collection plate are assembled in a manifold, the vials in the sample collection plated are aligned directly beneath the sample exits of corresponding sample reservoirs in the well plate.

Claims

9. An apparatus for simultaneous processing of multiple fluid samples, said apparatus comprising:

a well plate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge, and

a rim disposed about said peripheral edge, said rim configured for supporting said well plate in a manifold;

said well plate having first 48 cylindrical wells bored into said top surface and partially through said well plate,

each of said first 48 wells in said well plate being sized to receive sample reservoirs having a nominal capacity of 4.5 mL,

each of said first 48 wells further having a concentric aperture punched completely through to said bottom surface of said well plate, said aperture being sized to receive a tip of a sample reservoir,

said 48 wells being arranged in 12 staggered rows of 4 wells each such that a line drawn tangent to the circumferences of a first row of 4 wells will intersect an arc in the circumferences of a neighboring row of 4 wells; and

a sample collection plate having a top surface, and a peripheral edge,

said sample collection plate having second 48 cylindrical wells bored into said top surface and partially through said sample collection plate,

each of said second 48 wells being sized for receiving a sample collection vial,

said second 48 wells being arranged in 12 staggered rows of 4 wells each, matching said first 48 wells in said well plate, such that when said sample collection plate is aligned beneath said well plate, vials inserted into said second 48 wells are aligned directly beneath the tips of sample reservoirs inserted in said first 48 wells.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, said well plate further comprising:

an O-ring disposed within each of said first plurality of wells.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said sample reservoirs are integral with said well plate.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said rim has a top surface and a bottom surface, and a groove disposed on said bottom surface of said rim.

13. An apparatus for simultaneous processing of multiple fluid samples, said apparatus comprising:

a well plate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge,

a plurality of sample reservoirs integral with said well plate, each of said sample reservoirs having an aperture therein for communicating a fluid sample through said well plate,

said plurality of sample reservoirs being arranged in staggered rows such that a line drawn tangent to the circumferences of a first row of sample reservoirs will intersect an arc in the circumferences of a neighboring row of sample reservoirs.

1. An apparatus for simultaneous processing of multiple fluid samples, said apparatus comprising:

a well plate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge,

a first plurality of cylindrical wells bored into said top surface and partially through said well plate,

each of said first plurality of wells having a circumference sized for closely receiving the barrel of a sample reservoir, each of said first plurality of wells further having a concentric aperture punched completely through to said bottom surface of said well plate, said aperture being sized to receive a tip of a sample reservoir,

said first plurality of wells being arranged in staggered rows such that a line drawn tangent to the circumferences of a first row of wells will intersect an arc in the circumferences of a neighboring row of wells.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sample collection plate having a top surface, and a peripheral edge,

a second plurality of cylindrical wells bored into said top surface and partially through said sample collection plate,

each of said second plurality of wells being sized for receiving a sample collection vial,

said second plurality of wells being arranged in staggered rows matching said first plurality of wells in said well plate, such that when said sample collection plate is aligned beneath said well plate, a plurality of vials inserted into said second plurality of wells are aligned directly beneath the tips of a plurality of sample reservoirs inserted in said first plurality of wells.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said well plate further comprises a rim disposed about said peripheral edge, said rim having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface of said rim being configured for supporting said well plate in a manifold.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said peripheral rim further comprises a groove disposed on said bottom surface of said rim.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, said well plate further comprising:

an O-ring disposed within each of said first plurality of wells.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said well plate and said sample collection plate each have 48 wells arranged in 12 rows of 4 wells each.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of wells in said well plate are sized to receive sample reservoirs having a nominal capacity of 4.5 mL.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sample reservoirs are integral with said well plate.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a sample collection plate having a top surface, and a peripheral edge,

a plurality of cylindrical wells bored into said top surface and partially through said sample collection plate,

each of said second plurality of wells being sized for receiving a sample collection vial,

said plurality of wells being arranged in staggered rows matching said plurality of sample reservoirs in said well plate, such that when said sample collection plate is aligned beneath said well plate, a plurality of vials inserted into said plurality of wells are aligned directly beneath the apertures of said plurality of sample reservoirs in said well plate.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of sample reservoirs in said well plate have a nominal capacity of 4.5 mL.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said well plate further comprises a rim disposed about said peripheral edge, said rim having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface of said rim being configured for supporting said well plate in a manifold.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said peripheral rim further comprises a groove disposed on said bottom surface of said rim.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said aperture in said sample well comprises a luer tip.

14-1. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said well plate has 48 sample reservoirs arranged in 12 rows of 4 sample reservoirs and said sample collection plate has 48 wells arranged in 12 rows of 4 wells each.