Apparatus and methods for reformatting liquid samples

• US 20040203174A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Inventors: Ellman, Brett M., Jones, Aaron C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,025,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/021 Adjust spacings in an array of wells, pipettes or holders, format transfer between arrays of different size or geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/025 tapping tip on substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0241 Drop counters; Drop formers making arrays for combinatorial libraries B01J19/0046; automation of dispensing for analysis G01N35/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50857 using arrays or bundles of open capillaries for holding samples
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and method for transferring a plurality of samples from an array of source sample locations to an array of destination sample locations. An apparatus or method of the invention are useful for reformatting samples in cases where the array of source sample locations differs in shape or orientation from the array of destination sample locations. The invention can be used to transfer fluid samples in the absence of an externally applied force. Because active automation is not required for transferring samples, the invention provides the advantage of a compact and efficient format for liquid handling.

Claims

1. A sample transfer apparatus, comprising

a plurality of separate capillary tubes each comprising an inlet and outlet orifice;

and

a support member orienting said inlet orifices as a matrix of inlet orifices and said plurality of outlet orifices as a matrix of outlet orifices,

wherein said inlet orifices are directed to source sample locations and said outlet orifices are directed to destination sample locations, and

wherein the transfer area of said matrix of inlet orifices is larger than the transfer area of said matrix of outlet orifices.

2. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of separate capillary tubes comprises at least 96 capillary tubes.

3. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of separate capillary tubes comprises at least 384 capillary tubes.

4. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of separate capillary tubes comprises at least 1536 capillary tubes.

5. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said matrix of inlet orifices is planar.

6. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said matrix of outlet orifices is planar.

7. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said matrix of inlet orifices has an area of 110 cm².

8. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein adjacent inlet orifices are at most 9 mm apart.

9. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary tubes have a cross-sectional area of 1 mm².

10. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary tubes have at most two openings.

11. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outlet orifices have a cross-sectional area of 1 mm².

12. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary tube comprises a hydrophilic interior surface.

13. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary tube comprises a hydrophobic interior surface.

14. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a contact surface for a microplate, wherein said microplate has said source sample locations comprising wells, wherein said contact surface is placed to position said inlet orifices in contact with the interiors of said wells.

15. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a microplate removably connected to said seat.

16. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a seat for holding a substrate having said destination sample locations, wherein said seat is positioned to bring said outlet orifices within 250 μ

m of said destination sample locations.

17. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a substrate removably connected to said seat.

18. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 17, wherein said substrate further comprises an array of beads.

19. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solid support member further includes a plurality of wells in contact with said inlet orifices.

20. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said matrix of inlet orifices is arranged in a rectangular grid.

21. A sample transfer apparatus, comprising

a plurality of separate capillary tubes each comprising an inlet and outlet orifice;

and

a support member orienting said inlet orifices as a planar matrix of inlet orifices and said plurality of outlet orifices as a planar matrix of outlet orifices,

wherein said planar matrix of inlet orifices is substantially parallel to said planar matrix of outlet orifices,

wherein said inlet orifices and said outlet orifices are pointed in opposite directions, and

wherein the transfer area of said planar matrix of inlet orifices is larger than the transfer area of said planar matrix of outlet orifices.

22. A method for transferring a plurality of samples from a microplate to a substrate, comprising

providing a microplate having a plurality of samples;

contacting simultaneously said plurality of samples with a matrix of inlet orifices of a plurality of separate capillary tubes, whereby said samples are passively drawn through said capillary tubes to a matrix of outlet orifices;

contacting sample at said outlet orifices with a substrate, whereby said sample is transferred to said substrate,

wherein the transfer area of said matrix of inlet orifices is larger than the transfer area of said matrix of outlet orifices.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the orientation of said matrix of inlet orifices is fixed relative to said matrix of outlet orifices.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said plurality of separate capillary tubes comprises at least 96 capillary tubes.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said plurality of separate capillary tubes comprises at least 384 capillary tubes.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said plurality of separate capillary tubes comprises at least 1536 capillary tubes.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein said matrix of inlet orifices has an area of 110 cm².

28. The method of claim 22, wherein said samples simultaneously contact said substrate.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein at most 25 μ

l of sample is transferred to said substrate.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein said substrate comprises an array of biopolymers.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein said substrate comprises an array of beads having associated biopolymers.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein said sample is drawn through said capillary tubes primarily by capillary action.