Vacuum assist for a microplate

• US 20050226779A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oldham, Mark F., Fawcett, Adrian
• Application Number:
  US11/087,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20050226779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/99
• 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 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• 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 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1883 using thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 : specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 : with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 : for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 : with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/50 : Clamping means, tongs in general F16B2/06
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 : for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/56 : Means for indicating position of a recipient or sample in an array
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00287 : movable lid/cover for sample or reaction tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00366 : Several different temperatures used
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 : manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 : Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1039 : Micropipettes, e.g. microcapillary tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 : Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 : Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 : Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 : having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1074 : arranged in a two-dimensional array

Abstract

A vacuum assist apparatus can comprise a microplate. The microplate can comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface. A plurality of wells can be formed in the first surface of the microplate. Each of the plurality of wells can be sized to receive an assay therein. A support base can comprise a fluid passage. The microplate can be positioned adjacent and in contact with the support base. A pressure device, in fluid communication with the fluid passage, can exert a vacuum within the fluid passage to actively retain the microplate in the contact with the support base.

Claims

1. A vacuum assist apparatus comprising:

a microplate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;

a plurality of wells formed in said first surface of said microplate, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein;

a support base having a fluid passage, said microplate being positioned adjacent and in contact with said support base;

a pressure device in fluid communication with said fluid passage, said pressure device operable to exert a vacuum within said fluid passage to actively retain said microplate in said contact with said support base; and

a temperature control system operatively connected with the support base.

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

a sealing cover operably engaging at least one of said microplate and said support base, said sealing cover cooperating with said at least one of said microplate and said support base to define a volume, said volume having said vacuum.

3. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said sealing cover comprises:

a transparent window; and

a sealing member operably disposed between said transparent window and said support base to define a fluid seal.

4. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said sealing member is an O-ring seal.

5. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said temperature control system is configured for cycling the support base through a sequence of times and temperatures comprising at least a first temperature maintained for a first period of time and a second temperature maintained for a second period of time, with said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, and said cycling comprising at least two repetitions of said sequence of time and temperatures.

6. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fluid passage comprises:

a channel disposed within said support base, said channel being in fluid communication with said pressure device.

7. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fluid passage comprises:

a porous material portion of said support base, said porous material portion being in fluid communication with said pressure device.

8. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fluid passage comprises:

a permeable material portion of said support base, said permeable material portion being in fluid communication with said pressure device.

9. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of wells is greater than about 96 wells.

10. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of wells is greater than or equal to about 384 wells.

11. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of wells is greater than or equal to about 6144 wells.

12. A vacuum assist apparatus comprising:

a microplate having a first surface and a continuous opposing second surface;

a plurality of wells formed in said first surface of said microplate, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein;

a support base having a porous material section, said microplate being positioned adjacent and in contact with said support base;

a pressure device in fluid communication with said porous material section, said pressure device operable to exert a vacuum within said porous material section to actively retain said microplate in said contact with said support base; and

a temperature control system operatively connected with the support base.

13. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a sealing cover operably engaging at least one of said microplate and said support base, said sealing cover cooperating with said at least one of said microplate and said support base to define a volume, said volume having said vacuum.

14. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said sealing cover comprises:

a transparent window; and

a sealing member operably disposed between said transparent window and said support base to define a fluid seal.

15. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said sealing member is an O-ring seal.

16. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said temperature control system is configured for cycling the support base through a sequence of times and temperatures comprising at least a first temperature maintained for a first period of time and a second temperature maintained for a second period of time, with said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, and said cycling comprising at least two repetitions of said sequence of time and temperatures.

17. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of wells is greater than about 96 wells.

18. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of wells is greater than or equal to about 384 wells.

19. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of wells is greater than or equal to about 6144 wells.

20. A vacuum assist apparatus comprising:

a microplate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;

a plurality of wells formed in said first surface of said microplate, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein;

a substantially flat and contiguous surface formed on the opposing surface;

a support base having a permeable material section, said microplate being positioned adjacent and in contact with said support base;

a pressure device in fluid communication with said permeable material section, said pressure device operable to exert a vacuum within said permeable material section to actively retain said microplate in said contact with said support base; and

a temperature control system operatively connected with the support base.

21. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a sealing cover operably engaging at least one of said microplate and said support base, said sealing cover cooperating with said at least one of said microplate and said support base to define a volume, said volume having said vacuum.

22. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said sealing cover comprises:

a transparent window; and

a sealing member operably disposed between said transparent window and said support base to define a fluid seal.

23. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said sealing member is an O-ring seal.

24. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said temperature control system is configured for cycling the support base through a sequence of times and temperatures comprising at least a first temperature maintained for a first period of time and a second temperature maintained for a second period of time, with said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, and said cycling comprising at least two repetitions of said sequence of time and temperatures.

25. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said plurality of wells is greater than about 96 wells.

26. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said plurality of wells is greater than or equal to about 384 wells.

27. The vacuum assist apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said plurality of wells is greater than or equal to about 6144 wells.