Plunger-based flow immunoassay assembly

• US 20030157564A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dave Smith, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Thomas J. Foley
• Original Assignee: Dave Smith, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Thomas J. Foley
• Inventors: Liang, Greg, Smith, Dave, Smith, Mike, Waltzer, Eric, Tatum, Roger, Foley, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US10/310,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20030157564A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• 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 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/81 Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/812 in two or more alternative mixing receptacles, e.g. mixing in one receptacle and dispensing from another receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7137 Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7161 the containers being connected coaxially before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7163 the containers being connected in a mouth-to-mouth, end-to-end disposition, i.e. the openings are juxtaposed before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754251 reciprocating in the mixing receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 : with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 : Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 : Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48714 : for determining substances foreign to the organism, e.g. drugs or heavy metals drugs by chemical analysis G01N33/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 : the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 : Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 : involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/98 : involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7036 : Jacketed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 : with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Assemblies and methods are provided for flowing sample through a flow immunoassay assembly using one or more plungers. The flow immunoassay assembly includes an immunoassay reaction chamber, a sample distribution chamber in fluid communication with the immunoassay reaction chamber, and a sample dispense plunger being movable within the sample distribution chamber to dispense the sample from the sample distribution chamber into the immunoassay reaction chamber. The flow immunoassay assembly can further include a buffer chamber in fluid communication with the immunoassay reaction chamber, and a buffer dispense plunger movable within the buffer chamber to dispense buffer from the buffer chamber into the immunoassay reaction chambers. The flow immunoassay assembly can further include a read cell in fluid communication with the immunoassay reaction chamber for providing a means to measure a reaction within the reaction chamber (which may be a displacement type immunoassay reaction chamber) and a waste chamber in fluid communication with the read cell for storage of hazardous biological fluid. Upper and lower seals can be provided on the buffer chamber for storage of the buffer prior to use, in which case, the buffer dispense plunger can be provided with a stylus that is configured to puncture the upper seal when the buffer dispense plunger is moved toward the upper seal. To automate the immunoassay flow assembly, it can further include a drive assembly mechanically coupled to the sample dispense plunger, and if applicable, the buffer dispense plunger.

Claims

1. A flow immunoassay assembly for testing a sample, comprising:

an immunoassay reaction chamber;

a sample distribution chamber configured for containing said sample, and being in fluid communication with said immunoassay reaction chamber; and

a sample dispense plunger disposed within said sample distribution chamber, and being movable to dispense said sample from said sample distribution chamber into said immunoassay reaction chamber.

2. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sample/buffer mixing assembly in fluid communication with said sample distribution chamber, said mixing assembly configured for mixing said sample and a buffer to form a buffered sample solution and distributing said buffered sample solution into said sample distribution chamber.

3. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a buffer chamber configured for containing a buffer, said buffer chamber in fluid communication with said plurality of immunoassay reaction chamber; and

a buffer dispense plunger disposed within said buffer chamber, and being movable within said buffer chamber to dispense said buffer from said buffer chamber into said plurality of immunoassay reaction chamber.

4. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 3, wherein said buffer chamber comprises a buffer and a seal that seals said buffer in said buffer chamber.

5. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 4, wherein said buffer dispense plunger comprises a stylus that is configured to puncture said seal when said buffer dispense plunger is moved toward said seal.

6. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 1, further comprising a valve for selectively placing said sample distribution chamber in fluid communication with said plurality of immunoassay reaction chamber.

7. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 1, further comprising a read cell in fluid communication with said plurality of immunoassay reaction chamber.

8. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 7, further comprising a waste chamber in fluid communication with said read cell.

9. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of immunoassay reaction chamber comprises a displacement immunoassay reaction chamber.

10. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sample drive assembly mechanically coupled to said sample dispense plunger.

11. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 3, further comprising:

a sample drive assembly mechanically coupled to said sample dispense plunger; and

a buffer drive assembly mechanically coupled to said buffer dispense plunger.

17. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 6, wherein said plurality of buffer chamber comprises a buffer and a plurality of seals that seals said buffer in said plurality of buffer chambers.

18. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 7, wherein said plurality of buffer dispense plungers comprises a respective plurality of styluses that are configured to puncture said plurality of seals when said buffer dispense plungers are moved toward said plurality of seals.

20. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 9, further comprising a waste chamber in fluid communication with said plurality of read cells.

26. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

one or more sample drive assemblies mechanically coupled to said plurality of sample dispense plungers; and

one or more buffer drive assemblies mechanically coupled to said plurality of buffer dispense plungers.

12. A flow immunoassay assembly for testing a sample, comprising:

a plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers;

a plurality of sample distribution chambers configured for containing said sample, and being in fluid communication with said plurality of immunoassay distribution chambers; and

a plurality of sample dispense plungers disposed within said plurality of sample distribution chambers, and being movable to dispense said sample from said plurality of sample distribution chambers into said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers.

13. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of sample distribution chambers, immunoassay reaction chambers, and sample dispense plungers comprises five or more.

14. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of sample distribution chambers, immunoassay reaction chambers, and sample dispense plungers comprises ten or more.

15. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, further comprising a sample/buffer mixing assembly in fluid communication with said plurality of sample distribution chambers, said mixing assembly configured for mixing said sample and a buffer to form a buffered sample solution and distributing said buffered sample solution into said plurality of sample distribution chambers.

16. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of buffer chambers configured for containing a buffer, said plurality of buffer chambers being in fluid communication with said plurality immunoassay reaction chambers; and

a plurality of buffer dispense plungers disposed within said plurality of buffer chambers, and being movable within said plurality of buffer chambers to dispense said buffer from said plurality of buffer chambers into said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers.

19. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of read cells in fluid communication with said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers.

21. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, further comprising a cassette case for containing said pluralities of immunoassay reaction chambers, sample distribution chambers, and sample dispense plungers.

22. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, further comprising a valve for selectively placing said plurality of sample distribution chambers in fluid communication with said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers.

23. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, wherein said valve is a rotary valve.

24. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, wherein said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers comprises a plurality of displacement immunoassay reaction chambers.

25. The flow immunoassay assembly of claim 12, further comprising one or more sample drive assemblies mechanically coupled to said plurality of sample dispense plungers.

27. A method of analyzing a sample, comprising:

distributing said sample into a plurality of sample distribution chambers;

flowing said sample from said plurality of sample distribution chambers through a plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers by moving a plurality of sample dispense plungers within said plurality of sample distribution chambers; and

measuring a reaction within each of said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising flowing a buffer from a plurality of buffer chambers through said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers by moving a plurality of buffer dispense plungers within said plurality of buffer chambers.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said buffer is flowed through said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers during said sample distribution.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said buffer is flowed through said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers prior to said sample flow.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said buffer is flowed through said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers during said sample flow.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said buffer is flowed through said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers prior to said sample flow.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein said sample flow produces a analyte detectable sample solution within said plurality of immunoassay reaction chambers, and said reaction measuring comprises flowing said analyte detectable sample solution through a plurality of read cells and measuring an analyte indicator in said analyte detectable sample solution.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said analyte indicator comprises a labeled antigen.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein said sample comprises saliva.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said sample comprises a bodily fluid.