Sealed sample storage element system and method

• US 20040101966A1
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GenTegra, LLC (Genisyss, LLC)
• Original Assignee: GenVault Corp. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davis, James C., Sadler, John W., Eggers, Mitchell D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,718,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/43
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/02 Preservation of living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0263 Non-refrigerated containers specially adapted for transporting or storing living parts whilst preserving, e.g. cool boxes, blood bags or "straws" for cryopreservation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/288 Filter punches
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2525 Stabilizing or preserving
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction

Abstract

A system and method operative in accordance with the present disclosure facilitate storage and retrieval of individual or discrete samples of biological, non-biological, and chemical material stored on dry media. Sample material may be disposed upon or within a porous or solid (i.e., non-porous) sample storage medium and subsequently archived in, and retrieved from, storage elements such as multi-well plates, for example, using robotic devices or other automated apparatus. The disclosed system and method enable ejection of sample material from a sealed storage element into a specific well of a multi-well daughter plate, or into a specific cuvette, test tube, or similar container. In some embodiments, a sample carrier comprising a storage medium may be punched or ejected through a first seal of the storage element with an apparatus or implement such as a disposable piercing tip, for instance, inserted through a second seal of the storage element.

Claims

1. A storage element comprising:

a container having a reception opening configured and operative to receive a sample carrier and an ejection opening configured and operative to allow ejection of said sample carrier.

2. The storage element of claim 1 further comprising a first film applied to a first surface of said storage element and sealing said ejection opening.

3. The storage element of claim 2 wherein said first film is radio frequency transparent.

4. The storage element of claim 2 wherein said first film is optically transparent.

5. The storage element of claim 2 further comprising a second film applied to a second surface of said storage element and sealing said reception opening.

6. The storage element of claim 5 wherein said second film is radio frequency transparent.

7. The storage element of claim 5 wherein said second film is optically transparent.

8. The storage element of claim 5 wherein at least one of said first film and said second film is polymeric.

9. The storage element of claim 5 wherein at least one of said first film and said second film is metallic.

10. The storage element of claim 1 wherein said container is a well of a multi-well plate.

11. The storage element of claim 1 further comprising identifying indicia.

12. The storage element of claim 11 wherein said indicia comprise a bar code.

13. A storage element comprising:

a plurality of containers;

each of said plurality of containers having a respective reception opening configured and operative to receive a sample carrier and a respective ejection opening configured and operative to allow ejection of said sample carrier.

14. The storage element of claim 13 wherein said plurality of containers are arranged in a predetermined spatial relationship.

15. The storage element of claim 14 further comprising a first film applied to a first surface of said storage element and sealing said respective ejection opening of selected ones of said plurality of containers.

16. The storage element of claim 15 further comprising a second film applied to a second surface of said storage element and sealing said respective reception opening of selected ones of said plurality of containers.

17. The storage element of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first film and said second film is radio frequency transparent.

18. The storage element of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first film and said second film is optically transparent.

19. The storage element of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first film and second film is polymeric.

20. The storage element of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first film and said second film is metallic.

21. The storage element of claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of containers is a well of a multi-well plate.

22. The storage element of claim 13 further comprising identifying indicia.

23. The storage element of claim 22 wherein said indicia comprise a bar code.

24. A method of archiving a sample;

said method comprising;

providing a storage element comprising a container having a reception opening configured and operative to receive a sample carrier and an ejection opening configured and operative to allow ejection of said sample carrier;

sealing said ejection opening;

inserting a sample carrier into said container through said reception opening; and

archiving sample material maintained on said sample carrier in said container.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising sealing said reception opening subsequent to said inserting.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising loading said sample carrier with specimen material.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said loading comprises providing specimen material to said container through said reception opening.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising providing preservatives to said container through said reception opening.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein said sealing said ejection opening comprises applying a first film to a first surface of said storage element.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said applying comprises bonding said first film around the perimeter of said ejection opening.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein said sealing said reception opening comprises applying a second film to a second surface of said storage element.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said applying comprises bonding said second film around the perimeter of said reception opening.

33. The method of claim 24 further comprising selectively orienting said sample carrier subsequent to said inserting.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said selectively orienting comprises exerting a magnetic force on said sample carrier.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said exerting comprises applying a magnetic field to said storage element.

36. A method of inserting a sample carrier into a storage element;

said method comprising;

providing a storage element comprising a container having a reception opening configured and operative to receive a sample carrier and an ejection opening configured and operative to allow ejection of said sample carrier;

providing a substrate comprising a sample storage medium;

selectively cutting a sample carrier from said substrate; and

inserting said sample carrier into said container through said reception opening.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising sealing said ejection opening prior to said inserting.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising sealing said reception opening subsequent to said inserting.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein said selectively cutting comprises utilizing a cutting template influencing a dimension of said sample carrier.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein said inserting comprises utilizing a retention template dimensioned in accordance with said reception opening and said cutting template.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said inserting further comprises utilizing a plunger to advance said sample carrier through said retention template and through said reception opening.

42. The method of claim 36 further comprising loading said sample carrier with specimen material subsequent to said inserting.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein said loading comprises providing specimen material to said container through said reception opening.

44. The method of claim 36 wherein said substrate comprises a cellulose sample support medium.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said cellulose sample support medium is filter paper.

46. The method of claim 36 wherein said substrate comprises a polymeric sample support medium.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said polymeric sample support medium is polyurethane.

48. The method of claim 37 wherein said sealing said ejection opening comprises applying a first film to a first surface of said storage element.

49. The method of claim 38 wherein said sealing said reception opening comprises applying a second film to a second surface of said storage element.

50. The method of claim 36 further comprising selectively orienting said sample carrier subsequent to said inserting.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein said selectively orienting comprises exerting a magnetic force on said sample carrier.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said exerting comprises applying a magnetic field to said storage element.

53. A method of ejecting a sample carrier from a sealed storage element;

said method comprising;

providing a storage element comprising a container having a reception opening configured and operative to receive a sample carrier and an ejection opening configured and operative to allow ejection of said sample carrier;

aligning an ejector with said container;

inserting said ejector through said reception opening; and

ejecting said sample carrier from said container through said ejection opening.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said storage element comprises a plurality of containers and wherein said method further comprises identifying a location of a target sample carrier in said storage element.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein said identifying and said aligning further comprise utilizing a signal received from a transceiver co-located with said target sample carrier.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said transceiver is activated by radio frequency energy.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein said transceiver is activated by optical energy.

58. The method of claim 55 further comprising selectively orienting said target sample carrier prior to said utilizing.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein said selectively orienting comprises exerting a magnetic force on said target sample carrier.

60. The method of claim 53 wherein said inserting comprises piercing a film sealing said reception opening.

61. The method of claim 54 wherein said ejecting comprises piercing a film sealing said ejection opening.

62. The method of claim 53 further comprising providing a daughter plate to receive said sample carrier responsive to said ejecting.

63. An archive system comprising:

a receptacle having a support surface;

a plurality of storage elements arranged in a two dimensional configuration on said support surface, each of said plurality of storage elements comprising a container having a reception opening configured and operative to receive a sample carrier and an ejection opening configured and operative to allow ejection of said sample carrier; and

an ejector apparatus operative to;

align an ejector with a target container in a selected one of said plurality of storage elements;

insert said ejector through said reception opening in said target container; and

eject said sample carrier from said target container through said ejection opening.

64. The archive system of claim 63 further comprising a handling apparatus selectively operative to engage targeted ones of said plurality of storage elements.

65. The archive system of claim 63 wherein each of said plurality of storage elements is oriented on end.

66. The archive system of claim 65 wherein each of said plurality of storage elements is sealed at said reception opening and at said ejection opening.