High density plate filler

• US 20050232821A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• 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: Reed, Mark T., Harding, Ian A., Carrillo, Albert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/086,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20050232821A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/100
• 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 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 2300/1805 Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
• 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 3/50851 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 3/563 Joints or fittings in general F16L; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors
• 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 9/523 : 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: 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 35/028 : having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates

Abstract

A filling apparatus for filling a microplate. The microplate having a plurality of wells each sized to receive an assay. The filling apparatus can comprise an output layer having a depression and a plurality of staging capillaries. Each of the plurality of staging capillaries can comprises an inlet disposed in the depression and an outlet, and can further be sized to receive the assay. A floating insert comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface, and an aperture for receiving the assay extending therethrough, can be moveably disposed in the depression. The floating insert and the depression can together define a main capillary gap therebetween in fluid communication between the aperture and each of the plurality of staging capillaries. The size of the main capillary gap can vary depending upon the relative position of the floating insert and the output layer.

Claims

1. A filling apparatus for filling a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein, said filling apparatus comprising:

an output layer having a depression and a plurality of staging capillaries, each of said plurality of staging capillaries having an inlet disposed in said depression and an outlet, each of said plurality of staging capillaries being sized to receive the assay; and

an insert member having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said insert member further having an aperture for receiving the assay extending from said first surface to said second surface, said insert member being disposed in said depression and moveable relative to said output layer, said insert member and said depression defining a main capillary gap therebetween in fluid communication between said aperture and each of said plurality of staging capillaries, a size of said main capillary gap being dependent upon a relative position of said insert member and said output layer.

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

a cover coupled to said output layer, said cover at least in part retaining said insert member in said depression, said cover having an aperture in fluid communication with said aperture of said insert member.

3. The filling apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a port member having an assay input port in fluid communication with said aperture of said cover.

4. The filling apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said port member has a footprint that is smaller than an opening of said depression.

5. The filling apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cover is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

6. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said insert member comprises:

a flow feature formed along said second surface, said flow feature at least partially extending within one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

7. The filling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said flow feature is a post.

8. The filling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said flow feature is a tapered member, said tapered member cooperative with a mating entrance feature formed in the one of said plurality of staging capillaries to define a transition capillary gap in fluid communication between said main capillary gap and the one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

9. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said insert member further comprises a sidewall and said depression further comprises a sidewall, at least one of said sidewall of said insert member and said sidewall of said depression being shaped such that a capillary force of a space formed therebetween is generally less than a capillary force of said main capillary gap.

10. The filling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weight member disposed upon said insert member.

11. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said main capillary gap to provide sufficient force to draw a predetermined volume of the assay therein and permit release of the assay from each of said plurality of staging capillaries in response to an applied centripetal force.

12. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is spaced relative to adjacent ones of said plurality of staging capillaries to permit filling of the microplate.

13. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with the microplate having said plurality of wells, said microplate comprising at least about 96 wells.

14. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with the microplate having said plurality of wells, said microplate comprising at least about 384 wells.

15. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with the microplate having said plurality of wells, said microplate comprising at least about 6144 wells.

16. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said insert member is moveable in response to a centripetal force.

17. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said insert member is moveable in response to an external force.

18. A filling apparatus for filling a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein, said filling apparatus comprising:

an output layer having a depression and a plurality of staging capillaries, each of said plurality of staging capillaries having an inlet disposed in said depression and an outlet, each of said plurality of staging capillaries being sized to receive the assay; and

a floating insert having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said floating insert further having an aperture extending from said first surface to said second surface, said floating insert being disposed in said depression and moveable relative to said output layer, said floating insert and said depression defining a main capillary gap therebetween in fluid communication between said aperture and each of said plurality of staging capillaries, a size of said main capillary gap varying in response to movement of said floating insert relative to said depression.

19. The filling apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

a cover coupled to said output layer, said cover at least in part retaining said floating insert in said depression, said cover having an aperture in fluid communication with said aperture of said floating insert.

20. The filling apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a port member having an assay input port in fluid communication with said aperture of said cover.

21. The filling apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said port member has a footprint that is smaller than an opening of said depression.

22. The filling apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said cover is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

23. The filling apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said floating insert comprises:

a flow feature formed along said second surface, said flow feature at least partially extending within one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

24. The filling apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said flow feature is a post.

25. The filling apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said flow feature is a tapered member, said tapered member cooperative with a mating entrance feature formed in the one of said plurality of staging capillaries to define a transition capillary gap in fluid communication between said main capillary gap and the one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

26. The filling apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said floating insert further comprises a sidewall and said depression further comprises a sidewall, at least one of said sidewall of said floating insert and said sidewall of said depression being shaped such that a capillary force of a space formed therebetween is generally less than a capillary force of said main capillary gap.

27. The filling apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

a weight member disposed upon said floating insert.

28. The filling apparatus according to claim 18 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said main capillary gap to provide sufficient force to draw a predetermined volume of the assay therein and permit release of the assay from each of said plurality of staging capillaries in response to an applied centripetal force.

29. The filling apparatus according to claim 18 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is spaced relative to adjacent ones of said plurality of staging capillaries to permit filling of the microplate.

30. The filling apparatus according to claim 18 in combination with the microplate having said plurality of wells, said microplate comprising at least about 96 wells.

31. The filling apparatus according to claim 18 in combination with the microplate having said plurality of wells, said microplate comprising at least about 384 wells.

32. The filling apparatus according to claim 18 in combination with the microplate having said plurality of wells, said microplate comprising at least about 6144 wells.

33. The filling apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said floating insert is moveable in response to a centripetal force.

34. The filling apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said floating insert is moveable in response to an external force.

35. A method of filling a microplate comprising:

providing a microplate having a plurality of wells;

providing an output layer having a depression and an insert member moveably disposed within said depression, an interface between said insert member and said depression defining a main capillary gap;

inserting an assay into an aperture of said insert member;

drawing said assay from said aperture to a staging capillary formed in an output layer through said main capillary gap; and

applying a centripetal force to said insert member and said output layer such that said assay in said staging capillary is forced into one of said plurality of wells, said centripetal force being sufficient to urge said insert member against said output layer to reduce flow of said assay through said main capillary gap.