Robotic microchannel bioanalytical instrument

• US 20040262162A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Healthcare SV Corp (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: GE Healthcare SV Corp (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Armstrong, Thomas M., Johnston, Richard F., Jovanovich, Stevan B., Roach, David J., Loder, Robert T. Jr., Harris, Dennis W.
• Application Number:
  US10/891,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262162A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/600
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00059 vacuum chucks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0437 Cleaning cuvettes or reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44704 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44743 Introducing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44782 of a plurality of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1074 arranged in a two-dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/110833 Utilizing a moving indicator strip or tape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A substrate with a plurality of microchannels is movably deployed with other movable objects that will load sample into the microchannels, stimulate molecular migration, read the results of the migration, remove and replace the substrate, and prepare for a new run. The other objects include a gripper for engaging and moving the substrate, an electrode array of fine wires suitable for fitting into the microchannels for electromigration, and a scanning detector for reading migration results. A sequence of automatic operations is established so that one substrate after another may be moved into position, loaded with sample, stimulated for molecular migration, read with a beam, and then removed and replaced with a fresh substrate.

Claims

1-15. -15. (cancelled)

16. A robotic instrument for microchannel chemical analysis comprising:

a plurality of microchannels formed in a substrate, the microchannels having a closed cross-section and at a first end,

a plurality of ports and at a second end a common port,

a plurality of wells spaced apart from the microchannels containing fluid sample to be inserted into selected ports of the microchannels,

an automated multifunctional device movable between the first end ports and the sample wells, adapted to insert fluid sample into selected ports of the microchannels, and

an array of electrode wires insertable into selected ports of the microchannels, whereby voltage applied to the array of electrode wires causes molecular migration in the microchannels.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further defined by a gantry supporting the multifunctional device, the multifunctional device being movable relative to the sample plates and the microchip.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the number of microchannels is at least eight.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the plurality of wells are disposed in a microtiter plate which is movably mounted in a second track.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said substrate is movably disposed in a first track.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first and second tracks are spanned by a gantry supporting the multifunctional device.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein a molecular separation optical detector is disposed above or below the first track, the optical detector associated with the scanning beam.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the microchannels have portions aligned in a closely parallel arrangement whereby the scanning beam scans transverse to the parallel alignment.

24. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an electrode wash station movable relative to said array of electrode wires.

25. A robotic instrument for microchannel chemistry comprising:

a first microchip substrate having a plurality of microchannels therein mounted on a first frame, the first frame having microchannel loading apparatus associated therewith,

a second frame having microchannel sample analysis equipment therein, a robotic arm rotationally movable about a central axis and having an arm capable of carrying a microchip substrate, the arm movable between the first and second frames, and

a plurality of stations disposed in proximity to the rotational movement of the robot arm, at least some stations servicing the microchannel loading apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a second microchip substrate mounted on said second frame wherein said second substrate had sample loaded onto it while on said first frame with said microchannel loading apparatus and was carried by said robotic arm to said second frame before said first microchip substrate was mounted on said first frame and wherein said first substrate receives sample from said loading apparatus as sample from said second microchip substrate is undergoing electrophoresis and target molecules are simultaneously being detected by said sample analysis equipment.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said microchannel loading apparatus includes a ganged pipettor.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein one of said plurality of stations is a used pipette tip station.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein one of said plurality of stations is a new pipette tip station.

30. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein one of said plurality of stations is a new sample station.

31. Apparatus for bioanalytical measurement of a fluid comprising:

a plurality of elongated microchannels defined within a body, having first and second ends, the first ends spaced apart and having openings into the body for injection of fluid into the microchannels, the second ends being spaced in close proximity to each other for optical inspection, and

a plurality of edge connector electrodes associated with the microchannels at the first ends thereof, the edge connector electrodes extending outside of said body for contact with external circuitry.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said body comprises a substrate wherein said microchannels are defined and a cover wherein said openings are defined.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the edge connector electrodes are defined in the substrate.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the edge connector electrodes are defined in the cover.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said substrate has the dimensions of a semiconductor wafer.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said cover only partially covers the substrate, exposing portions of the edge connector electrodes.

37. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the first ends of said microchannels each have stub microchannels in transverse relation, the stub microchannels having edge connector electrodes associated therwith having a portion accessible outside of said body.

38. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said second ends of the microchannel funnel into a common collector zone having a single microchannel extending therefrom, the single microchannel having an edge connector electrode associated therewith.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said single microchannel has an opening through the body of sufficient size to accommodate a pipettor tip for injection of fluid into the microchannels.

40. Apparatus for bioanalytical measurement of a fluid comprising:

a substrate having a plurality of elongated microchannels, with each microchannel having first and second ends,

a cover disposed over the substrate, enclosing the microchannels,

a pair of stub microchannels formed in the substrate transverse to said elongated microchannel,

a first pair of edge connectors disposed on the substrate at the free ends of the stub microchannels and a second pair of edge connectors disposed on the substrate at the first and second ends of the elongated microchannels, wherein a portion of the edge connectors extend beneath said cover.

41. A microchip having an array of microchannels comprising:

a substrate having a common end reservoir, and

a plurality of microchannels extending radially from the end reservoir in a spoke-like pattern with free ends having sample inlet ports.