Fluidic system and method for processing biological microarrays in personal instrumentation

• US 20060246576A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shirazi, Mohsen
• Application Number:
  US11/388,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20060246576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.200
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0498 Drawers used as storage or dispensing means for vessels or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1048 using the transfer device for another function
• 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

Abstract

A fluidic system and method for processing biological sensors. The fluidic system includes a fluidic component including at least a first container and a second container. The first container is capable of holding a first volume of a first fluid, and the second container is capable of holding a second volume of a second fluid. Additionally, the fluidic system includes a support component configured to support at least the first container and the second container. The first container and the second container are substantially stationary with respect to the support component. Moreover, the fluidic system includes a transport component configured to move a first sensor, with respect to the support component, into the first container and in contact with the first volume of the first fluid, and move a second sensor, with respect to the support component, into the second container and in contact with the second volume of the second fluid. The first sensor and the second sensor are moved substantially simultaneously.

Claims

1. A fluidic system for processing biological sensors, the fluidic system comprising:

a fluidic component including at least a first container and a second container, the first container capable of holding a first volume of a first fluid, the second container capable of holding a second volume of a second fluid;

a support component configured to support at least the first container and the second container, the first container and the second container being substantially stationary with respect to the support component;

a transport component configured to;

move a first sensor, with respect to the support component, into the first container and in contact with the first volume of the first fluid;

move a second sensor, with respect to the support component, into the second container and in contact with the second volume of the second fluid;

wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are moved substantially simultaneously.

2. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the fluidic system is configured to process the first sensor and the second sensor so that the processed first sensor and the processed second sensor are ready for scan.

3. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein:

when the first sensor is inside the first container and in contact with the first volume of the first fluid, the first volume of the first fluid remains completely within the first container;

when the second sensor is inside the second container and in contact with the second volume of the second fluid, the second volume of the second fluid remains completely within the second container.

4. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the first sensor is attached to a first support member.

5. The fluidic system of claim 4 wherein the first support member is a peg.

6. The fluidic system of claim 4 wherein the second sensor is attached to a second support member.

7. The fluidic system of claim 6 wherein each of the first support member and the second support member is a part of a plate.

8. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein:

the first sensor is associated with a sensor length, a sensor width, and a sensor thickness;

the sensor length is equal to or shorter than 10 mm;

the sensor width is equal to or narrower than 10 mm;

the sensor thickness is equal to or thinner than 1000 μ

m.

9. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the first sensor is a biological sensor.

10. The fluidic system of claim 9 wherein the biological sensor includes a microarray.

11. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the first volume of the first fluid sensor is equal to or smaller than 5 ml.

12. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the support component is further configured to support, directly, at least the first container and the second container.

13. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the support component is further configured to support, indirectly through another object, at least the first container and the second container.

14. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are the same or different in kind.

15. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the first volume and the second volume are the same or different in size.

16. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein each of the first container and the second container is a well.

17. The fluidic system of claim 1 wherein the first container and the second container are two of a plurality of containers, the plurality of containers being attached, directly or indirectly, to a common component.

18. The fluidic system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of containers are arranged in one or more rows and one or more columns.

19. A fluidic system for processing biological sensors, the fluidic system comprising:

a fluidic component including at least a first container and a second container, the first container capable of holding a first volume of a first fluid, the second container capable of holding a second volume of a second fluid;

a support component including a panel for supporting at least the first container and the second container, the first container and the second container being substantially stationary with respect to the panel;

a transport component including a gripper and at least one motor;

wherein;

the gripper is capable of gripping the first sensor and the second sensor substantially simultaneously and of releasing the first sensor and the second sensor substantially simultaneously;

the at least one motor is configured to move the gripped first sensor, with respect to the panel, into the first container and in contact with the first volume of the first fluid;

the at least one motor is further configured to move the gripped second sensor, with respect to the panel, into the second container and in contact with the second volume of the second fluid;

wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are moved substantially simultaneously.

20. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein the gripper includes an actuator.

21. The fluidic system of claim 20 wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator.

22. The fluidic system of claim 20 wherein the actuator is an electrical actuator.

23. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein:

the at least one motor is capable of moving the gripped first sensor in at lest six directions;

each of the six directions is opposite to another direction of the six directions and is perpendicular to four directions of the six directions;

the four directions of the six directions are different from the another direction.

24. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein the fluidic component is at least partially enclosed by a cover.

25. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein:

the first container and the second container are attached to an object associated with a temperature;

the object includes a heater configured to heat up the first volume of the first fluid and the second volume of the second fluid;

the object further includes a thermometer configured to measure the temperature.

26. The fluidic system of claim 19, and further comprising a temperature controller coupled to the heater and the thermometer and configured to heat the temperature to a predetermined value.

27. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein the transport component is coupled to a processing system, the processing system configured to provide instructions to the transport component for gripping, releasing, or moving the first sensor and the second sensor.

28. The fluidic system of claim 27 wherein the processing system includes a computer.

29. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein the fluidic system is configured to process the first sensor and the second sensor so that the processed first sensor and the processed second sensor are ready for scan.

30. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein:

when the first sensor is inside the first container and in contact with the first volume of the first fluid, the first volume of the first fluid remains completely within the first container;

when the second sensor is inside the second container and in contact with the second volume of the second fluid, the second volume of the second fluid remains completely within the second container.

31. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein the first sensor is attached to a first support member.

32. The fluidic system of claim 31 wherein the first support member is a peg.

33. The fluidic system of claim 31 wherein the second sensor is attached to a second support member.

34. The fluidic system of claim 32 wherein each of the first support member and the second support member is a part of a plate.

35. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein:

the first sensor is associated with a sensor length, a sensor width, and a sensor thickness;

the sensor length is equal to or shorter than 10 mm;

the sensor width is equal to or narrower than 10 mm;

the sensor thickness is equal to or thinner than 1000 μ

m.

36. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein the first sensor is a biological sensor.

37. The fluidic system of claim 36 wherein the biological sensor includes a microarray.

38. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein the first volume of the first fluid sensor is equal to or smaller than 5 ml.

39. The fluidic system of claim 19 wherein the support component is further configured to support, directly, at least the first container and the second container.

40. A method for processing biological sensors, the method comprising:

performing a hybridization process on at least a first sensor and a second sensor;

after the hybridization process, transferring the first sensor and the second sensor into a fluidic system, the fluidic system including at least a first container and a second container, the first container holding a first volume of a first fluid, the second container holding a second volume of a second fluid;

moving the first sensor into the first container and in contact with the first volume of the first fluid;

moving the second sensor into the second container and in contact with the second volume of the second fluid;

wherein the moving the first sensor and the moving the second sensor are performed substantially simultaneously.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein:

the fluidic system includes a support component configured to support at least the first container and the second container, the first container and the second container being substantially stationary with respect to the support component;

the moving the first sensor includes moving the first sensor with respect to the support component;

the moving the second sensor includes moving the second sensor with respect to the support component.

42. The method of claim 40, and further comprising after the moving the first sensor and the moving the second sensor, processing the first sensor and the second sensor so that the processed first sensor and the processed second sensor are ready for scan.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the processing the first sensor and the second sensor includes performing at least a low stringency wash, at least a high stringency wash, and at least a stain process to the first sensor and the second sensor.

44. The method of claim 42, and further comprising:

transferring the processed first sensor and the processed second sensor out of the fluidic system;

performing a scanning process on the processed first sensor and the processed second sensor.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein between the transferring the first sensor and the second sensor-into a fluidic system and the transferring the processed first sensor and the processed second sensor out of the fluidic system:

the first volume of the first fluid is not in contact with any sensor other than the first sensor;

the second volume of the second fluid is not in contact with any sensor other than the second sensor.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein between the transferring the first sensor and the second sensor into a fluidic system and the transferring the processed first sensor and the processed second sensor out of the fluidic system:

the first container is not provided with any volume of any fluid that is different from the first volume of the first fluid and is not provided by the first sensor;

the second container is not provided with any volume of any fluid that is different from the second volume of the second fluid and is not provided by the second sensor.

47. The method of claim 40 wherein:

the moving the first sensor includes when the first sensor is inside the first container and in contact with the first volume of the first fluid, keeping the first volume of the first fluid completely within the first container;

the moving the second sensor includes when the second sensor is inside the second container and in contact with the second volume of the second fluid, keeping the second volume of the second fluid completely within the second container.

48. The method of claim 40 wherein the first sensor is attached to a first support member.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the first support member is a peg.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the second sensor is attached to a second support member.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein each of the first support member and the second support member is a part of a plate.

52. The method of claim 40 wherein the first sensor is a biological sensor.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the biological sensor includes a microarray.

54. The method of claim 40 wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are the same or different.

55. The method of claim 40 wherein the first volume and the second volume are the same or different in size.