High density plate filler

• US 20070014694A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• 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: Harding, Ian, Carrillo, Albert, Reed, Mark, Beard, Nigel
• Application Number:
  US11/086,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20070014694A1
• 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 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• 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: G01N 35/1074 arranged in a two-dimensional array

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 assay input layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface. The assay input layer can comprise an assay input port extending from the first surface to the second surface and at least one pressure nodule extending from the second surface. An output layer can comprise a plurality of staging capillaries each having an inlet and an outlet. A intermediate layer can be disposed between the assay input layer and the output layer. The intermediate layer can be flexible and comprise a plurality of microfluidic channels and a flow aperture being in fluid communication with the assay input port and the plurality of microfluidic channels. The assay input layer can be moveable relative to the intermediate layer such that the at least one pressure nodule engages the intermediate layer to apply a clamping force on at least a portion of one of the plurality of microfluidic channels to reduce flow of the assay therethrough.

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:

a first layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said first layer further having an assay input port for receiving the assay extending from said first surface to said second surface and at least one pressure nodule extending from said second surface;

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

a third layer disposed between said first layer and said second layer, said third layer being generally compliant and having a plurality of microfluidic channels formed therein, said third layer further having a flow aperture being in fluid communication with said assay input port and said plurality of microfluidic channels,

wherein said first layer is moveable relative to said third layer such that said at least one pressure nodule engages said third layer to apply a clamping force on at least a portion of one of the plurality of microfluidic channels to reduce flow of the assay therethrough.

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

a surface tension relief post extending from said second layer, said surface tension relief post being generally aligned with said flow aperture of said third layer, said surface tension relief post engagable with the assay in at least one of said assay input port and said flow aperture.

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

a protrusion formed about said outlet of at least one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

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

a spacer extending about at least a portion of said second layer, said spacer engagable with the microplate to provide a predetermined spacing therewith.

5. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pressure nodule is coaxially aligned with one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

6. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pressure nodule is generally aligned between two of said plurality of staging capillaries.

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

at least one sealing feature formed on said third layer, said sealing feature being generally aligned with one of said plurality of staging capillaries, said at least one sealing feature being movable into sealing engagement with the one of said plurality of staging capillaries in response to said clamping force.

8. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said plurality of microfluidic channels and said assay input port to provide sufficient force to draw a predetermined volume of the assay therein.

9. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said plurality of microfluidic channels and said assay input port 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first layer is moveable in response to a centripetal force.

15. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first layer is moveable in response to an external force.

16. 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 assay input layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said assay input layer further having an assay input port extending from said first surface to said second surface and at least one pressure nodule extending from said second surface;

an output layer having a plurality of staging capillaries, each of said plurality of staging capillaries having an inlet and an outlet; and

an intermediate layer disposed between said assay input layer and said output layer, said intermediate layer being flexible and having a plurality of microfluidic channels formed therein, said intermediate layer further having a flow aperture being in fluid communication with said assay input port and said plurality of microfluidic channels,

wherein said assay input layer is moveable relative to said intermediate layer such that said at least one pressure nodule engages said intermediate layer to apply a clamping force on at least a portion of one of the plurality of microfluidic channels to reduce flow of the assay therethrough.

17. The filling apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a surface tension relief post extending from said output layer, said surface tension relief post being generally aligned with said flow aperture of said intermediate layer, said surface tension relief post engagable with the assay in at least one of said assay input port and said flow aperture.

18. The filling apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a protrusion formed about said outlet of at least one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

19. The filling apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a spacer extending about a least a portion of said output layer, said spacer engagable with the microplate to provide a predetermined spacing therewith.

20. The filling apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said at least one pressure nodule is coaxially aligned with one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

21. The filling apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said at least one pressure nodule is generally aligned between two of said plurality of staging capillaries.

22. The filling apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

at least one sealing feature formed on said intermediate layer, said sealing feature being generally aligned with one of said plurality of staging capillaries, said at least one sealing feature being movable into sealing engagement with the one of said plurality of staging capillaries in response to said clamping force.

23. The filling apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said plurality of microfluidic channels and said assay input port to provide sufficient force to draw a predetermined volume of the assay therein.

24. The filling apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said plurality of microfluidic channels and said assay input port 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.

25. The filling apparatus according to claim 16 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.

26. The filling apparatus according to claim 16 in combination with the microplate having said plurality of wells, said microplate comprising at least 96 wells.

27. The filling apparatus according to claim 16 in combination with the microplate having said plurality of wells, said microplate comprising at least 384 wells.

28. The filling apparatus according to claim 16 in combination with the microplate having said plurality of wells, said microplate comprising at least 6144 wells.

29. A method of filling a microplate comprising:

providing a microplate having a plurality of wells;

inserting an assay into an assay input port of a first layer, said first layer having a pressure nodule formed thereon;

drawing said assay from said assay input port to at least two staging capillaries formed in a second layer through a plurality of microfluidic channels formed in a third layer, each of said at least two staging capillaries being generally aligned with a corresponding one of said plurality of wells; and

applying a centripetal force to said first layer, said second layer, and said third layer such that said assay in said at least two staging capillaries is forced into said corresponding plurality of wells, said centripetal force being sufficient to urge said pressure nodule of said first layer against said third layer to reduce flow of said assay through at least one of said plurality of microfluidic channels.