Apparatus and process for processing a sample

• US 20080182338A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Abraham-Fuchs, Klaus, Schmidt, Sebastian, Zilch, Christian, Gumbrecht, Walter, Ehben, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,551,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/174
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/42 Low-temperature sample treatment, e.g. cryofixation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00148 Test cards, e.g. Biomerieux or McDonnel multiwell test cards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for processing a sample which stores processing reagents required for processing in a dry form. The processing reagents are covered by a biologically degradable medium or embedded in said biologically degradable medium.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a sample, which stores processing reagents required for processing in a dry form, the processing reagents being embedded in a biologically degradable medium which is water-resistant in its non-degraded state.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing reagents and the biologically degradable medium form a nonhomogeneous mixture.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing reagents are present as inclusions inside the degradable medium.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medium comprises at least one biopolymer.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the biopolymer is a protein.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protein is gelatin.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the biopolymer is a polysaccharide.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the polysaccharide is a dextran.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the polysaccharide is starch.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the polysaccharide is cellulose.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for degrading the medium.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for degrading the medium include at least one enzyme.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

means for controlling the temperature of the means for degrading the medium, said means for degrading including a temperature-dependent activity.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the means for degrading the medium are chosen so as for the medium to be degraded only above a defined temperature.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for degrading the medium comprise HtrA2.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for degrading the medium comprise Pyrococcus furiosus alpha-amylase.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for degrading the medium have a pH-dependent activity.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for degrading the medium have an ion-dependent activity.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for degrading the medium are designed as at least one degrading reagent stored in a dry form.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the medium is at least partially covered by the degrading reagent.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the degrading reagent is at least partially embedded in the medium.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the degrading reagent is activatable by contacting the medium with water.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the degrading reagent is water-soluble.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one microchannel or one microcavity for receiving the processing reagents, into which said processing reagents and the degrading reagent have been introduced as mixtures which form stable substances at room temperature.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the mixtures are anhydrous solids.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one of the solids adheres to walls of the microchannel or of the microcavity.

4. The apparatus for processing a sample, which stores processing reagents required for processing in a dried form, the processing reagents being covered by a biologically degradable medium.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the medium forms a protective layer for the processing reagents.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the medium is water-resistant in its non-degraded state.

46. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the medium comprises at least one biopolymer.

47. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means for degrading the medium.

48. The apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein the means for degrading the medium include at least one enzyme.

49. The apparatus as claimed in claim 47, further comprising:

means for controlling the temperature of the means for degrading the medium, said means for degrading including a temperature-dependent activity.

50. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

at least one microchannel or one microcavity for receiving the processing reagents, into which said processing reagents and the degrading reagent have been introduced as mixtures which form stable substances at room temperature.

30. A process for processing a sample, comprising:

providing an apparatus for processing a sample, including processing reagents required for processing the sample, stored in a dry form, and a biologically degradable medium, water-resistant in a non-degraded state, the processing reagents being at least one of covered by and embedded in the biologically degradable medium;

delivering the sample in an aqueous solvent;

degrading the medium by using degrading reagents;

dissolving the processing reagents in the aqueous solvent; and

processing the sample by using the processing reagents.

31. The process as claimed in claim 30, wherein the apparatus contains a reservoir of the processing reagent.

32. The process as claimed in claim 30, wherein the degrading reagent is delivered with the sample.

33. The process as claimed in claim 30, wherein the temperature of the degrading reagent is increased so as for the medium to be degraded.

34. A process for preparing an apparatus for processing a sample, including processing reagents required for processing the sample, stored in a dry form, and a biologically degradable medium, water-resistant in a non-degraded state, the processing reagents being at least one of covered by and embedded in the biologically degradable medium, the process comprising:

providing a mixture including at least the processing reagents and the biologically degradable medium;

providing a reaction vessel;

applying the mixture to at least one wall of the reaction vessel; and

drying the mixture.

35. The process as claimed in claim 34, further comprising applying the mixture to the wall by spotting.

36. A process for preparing an apparatus for processing a sample, including processing reagents required for processing the sample, stored in a dry form, and a biologically degradable medium, water-resistant in a non-degraded state, the processing reagents being at least one of covered by and embedded in the biologically degradable medium, the process comprising:

providing a reaction vessel;

applying the processing reagents to at least one wall of the reaction vessel;

drying the processing reagents;

providing the biologically degradable medium in soluble form, the solvent being chosen so as for the processing reagents not to be dissolved;

applying the dissolved medium to the processing reagents; and

drying the dissolved medium.

37. The process as claimed in claim 36, wherein the solvent is ether.

38. The process as claimed in claim 37, wherein drying is carried out by way of freeze-drying.

39. An apparatus for processing a sample, comprising:

processing reagents required for processing the sample, stored in a dry form; and

a biologically degradable medium, water-resistant in a non-degraded state, the processing reagents being at least one of covered by and embedded in the biologically degradable medium.

40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the processing reagents and the biologically degradable medium form a nonhomogeneous mixture.

41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the processing reagents are present as inclusions inside the degradable medium.

42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising means for degrading the medium.

43. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the means for degrading the medium include at least one enzyme.

44. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42, further comprising:

means for controlling the temperature of the means for degrading the medium, said means for degrading including a temperature-dependent activity.

45. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

at least one microchannel or one microcavity for receiving the processing reagents, into which said processing reagents and the degrading reagent have been introduced as mixtures which form stable substances at room temperature.