DEVICE FOR PROCESSING SAMPLES

• US 20090305392A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qiagen GmbH (Qiagen NV)
• Original Assignee: Qiagen GmbH (Qiagen NV)
• Inventors: Friederichs, Ulf, Lutze, Konstantin, Buetzer, Axel, Aeschbacher, Juerg, Walder, Bruno, Alfredsson, Magnus, Farner, Samuel, Widler, Bruno, Deutschmann, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,458,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/286.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00663 of consumables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00712 Automatic status testing, e.g. at start-up or periodic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis

Abstract

Device for sample processing, particularly sample conditioning as well as for the preparation and/or optionally for implementing a sequential process for an analyte from a biological sample, said device comprising a module for receiving and/or outputting at least one sample vessel or process vessel, a module for transporting a process vessel, a module for sample conditioning and a module for initiating a sequential process for an analyte. The modules are divided into at least two units that each possesses a control system, and which are connected through a first data bus.

Claims

1. A device for sample processing comprising

at least one module for the reception and/or output of at least one sample vessel and/or process vessel,

at least one module for the transport of at least one process vessels,

at least one module for sample conditioning, which is a lysis module and/or an extraction module

at least one module for preparing a sequential process, optionally at least one module for implementing a sequential process,

optionally at least one module for implementing an analysis of at least one analyte,

wherein the modules are divided into at least two units and the module for sample conditioning is arranged in a first unit and the module for preparing a sequential process is arranged in a second unit.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the units are each placed in a housing, and the housings are essentially structurally separate.

4. A device according to one of claim 1, wherein a further module for sample conditioning is connected upstream of the module for sample conditioning, wherein said further module is neither a lysis module nor an extraction module, but rather a module for physical cell disruption and/or for removing the sample from closed primary sample vessels, and which is optionally provided in a further unit.

5. A device according to claim 1, comprising at least one transfer module for transporting a process vessel between two units, wherein the transfer module optionally includes a telescopic arm and/or a conveyor belt and optionally works bidirectionally.

6. A device according to claim 1, including a controller that comprises specific information of a processes and/or a process parameter and which checks whether a selected process is viable, and if necessary, signals a discrepancy and/or offers a possibility to resolve the discrepancy.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one unit can deliver an output process vessel in various starting formats.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one unit is designed to be connected with an external computer, by which at least one parameter of the device can be adjusted and/or called.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the units comprises at least one area for storing used and/or unused consumables, wherein the storage area for unused consumables is optionally spatially separated from the storage area for used consumables.

12. A device according to claim 1 comprising a controller that possesses specific information on various types of consumables, and wherein said information, after the determination of at least one previously defined property is utilised by means of sensor technology.

13. A device according to claim 1, comprising a module for receiving sample vessels, which can be converted by means of an adapter to accept a plurality of different sample vessels.

14. A device (100) according to claim 1, wherein during a process cycle for the processing of a sample

a) in a unit that comprises the module for the sample conditioning, at least two process vessels and optionally at least one sample vessel are used

b) in a unit that comprises the module for the preparation of a sequential process, a process vessel and at least one further process vessel and/or storage vessel, which independently of each other can be geometrically identical or different with one another and with the first process vessel, are used,

wherein the sample vessel is neither a process vessel nor a storage vessel.

19. A device of claim 1, wherein said at least one module for sample conditioning, which is a lysis module and/or an extraction module is capable of implementing a magnetic separation.

2. A device for sample processing comprising

at least one module for the reception and/or output of at least one sample vessel and/or process vessel,

at least one module for the transport of at least one process vessel,

at least one module for sample conditioning, which is a lysis module and/or an extraction module,

at least one module for preparing a sequential process, which is an amplification reaction and/or an analytical method for at least one analyte,

optionally at least one module for implementing a sequential process which is, an amplification reaction for at least one analyte,

optionally at least one module for implementing an analysis of at least one analyte,

wherein the modules are divided into at least two units and each of the units possesses its own control system, and wherein the at least two units are connected through a first data bus.

20. A device of claim 2, wherein said at least one module for sample conditioning, which is a lysis module and/or an extraction module is capable of implementing a magnetic separation.

9. An assembly for sample processing, comprising:

At least one unit,

a module for the reception and/or the output of at least one sample and/or process vessel and,

at least one additional identical and/or not identical module, selected from the group consisting of

a) a module for transporting at least one process vessel inside a unit,

b) a transfer module for transporting at least one process vessel between two units, wherein the transfer module optionally possesses a telescopic arm and/or a conveyor belt and optionally works bidirectionally,

c) a module for sample conditioning, which is a lysis module and/or an extraction module, a module for preparing a sequential process a module for implementing a sequential process

f) a module for conserving processed samples, and

g) a module for sample conditioning that is different from (c), which is optionally a module for physical cell disruption and/or for removing the sample from a closed primary sample vessel,

wherein if included, the modules (c) and (d) are not located in the same unit and wherein a unit has a controller and communicates with a second unit over a data bus, and wherein the modules inside the unit communicate over a second data bus.

10. An assembly according to claim 9 comprising an essentially closed housing.

15. A module for use in a unit for processing biological samples, comprising:

a) a holder for at least one vessel,

b) a microcontroller,

c) a data bus interface for data communication with the controller of the unit.

16. A module according to claim 15, with a transfer mechanism for transporting a sample vessel and/or process vessel between two units, wherein the transfer module optionally possesses a telescopic arm and/or a conveyor belt and works bidirectionally,

17. A module according to claim 15, wherein the microcontroller works with a real time operating system.

18. A module according to claim 15, further comprising a read-only memory and/or an internal memory and/or an electronic circuit for controlling communications.