APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF PROCESSING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

• US 20100120129A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Khorlin, Alexander, Powers, Timothy, Thacker, Michael, Bezdek, Daniel, Parsons, Lance, Updyke, Timothy, Zgonc, Kornelija, Kahatt, Espir, Amshey, Joseph, Peterson, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 8,404,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/270
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/088 Channel loops
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0605 check valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00306 Housings, cabinets, control panels (details)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1037 Using surface tension, e.g. pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention provides systems, devices, apparatuses and methods for automated bioprocessing. Examples of protocols and bioprocessing procedures suitable for the present invention include but are not limited to: immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, recombinant protein isolation, nucleic acid separation and isolation, protein labeling, separation and isolation, cell separation and isolation, food safety analysis and automatic bead based separation. In some embodiments, the invention provides automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods of western blot processing. Other embodiments include automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods for separation, preparation and purification of nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA or fragments thereof, including plasmid DNA, genomic DNA, bacterial DNA, viral DNA and any other DNA, and for automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods for processing, separation and purification of proteins, peptides and the like.

Claims

1. A bioprocessing cartridge comprising:

a) at least one bioprocessing chamber configured to contain a solid support;

b) a plurality of mesoscale and/or microscale process fluid channels in fluid communication with the bioprocessing chamber through at least one pump, wherein the at least one pump is included in or on the bioprocessing cartridge.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said cartridge comprises at least one access valve within a flow path defined by at least one of the plurality of process fluid channels.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein each of said at least one access valves is located within a flow path between a process fluid connector and the at least one of the plurality of process fluid channels, each process fluid connector configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to one or more fluid containers.

4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein said cartridge comprises more than one access valve, wherein each access valve is placed within a flow path between an independent process fluid connector and one of the plurality of process fluid channels, each independent process fluid connector configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to one or more fluid containers.

5. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein said process fluid connectors are configured to connect to said fluid containers via a manifold.

6. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein said process fluid connectors are configured to connect to said fluid containers via aspiration and/or expiration tubes.

7. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein said process fluid connectors are aspiration and/or expiration tubes.

8. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein said cartridge comprises an access valve within each of the flow paths between each of the process fluid connectors and each of the plurality of process fluid channels.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising at least one process valve in a flow path between the pump and the chamber.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said cartridge comprises two or more bioprocessing chambers.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of control fluid channels.

12. The cartridge of claim 11, further comprising control fluid connectors connecting to each of said plurality of control fluid channels, each control fluid connector configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to one or more automated control systems.

13. The cartridge of any of claims 1, wherein said cartridge comprises a dye chamber in fluid communication with at least one process fluid channel, wherein a material within said dye chamber changes color when contacted with a fluid.

14. An automated bioprocessing device comprising:

a) one or more cartridge slots, each slot configured to receive a bioprocessing cartridge;

b) a removable fluid container tray comprising at least one fluid container holder configured to hold containers for use during bioprocessing; and

c) an automated control system, configured to control at least one parameter associated with bioprocessing in one or more bioprocessing cartridges.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said device comprises from 2-8 cartridge slots.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said cartridge slots further comprise a fluid manifold configured to fluidly connect one or more fluid containers within the fluid container holder with one or more process fluid connectors and/or a control fluid manifold configured to connect one or more control fluid connectors to one or more automated control systems.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein said cartridge slots include multiple openings or guide features for receiving aspiration and/or expiration tubes on a cartridge and guiding the aspiration and/or expiration tubes into fluid containers in the fluid container holders.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein said automated control system independently provides for control of the pumps and the valves on bioprocessing cartridges in each of the cartridge slots.

19. An automated method of bioprocessing comprising:

a) providing a bioprocessing cartridge comprising

i) at least one bioprocessing chamber containing a solid support therein; and

ii) a plurality of mesoscale and/or microscale process fluid channels in fluid communication with said bioprocessing chamber; and

b) pumping at least one process fluid through at least one of said plurality of process fluid channels and into said bioprocessing chamber.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said pumping comprises pumping one or more reagents and/or a sample into said processing chamber and into contact with the solid support.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said pumping includes circulating at least one of said reagents from a channel accessing an upper portion of said chamber through a pump on said cartridge and into a channel accessing a bottom portion of said chamber.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said pumping includes pumping at least one process fluid through or across the surface of a filter or membrane in said at least one bioprocessing chamber.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said method comprises an automated western blot processing method.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said method comprises an automated nucleic acid separation, purification and/or collection method.

25. A method of applying one or more fluids to a solid support comprising the steps of:

a) inserting at least one bioprocessing cartridge into a bioprocessing device, said bioprocessing cartridge comprising;

i) at least one bioprocessing chamber containing a solid support therein; and

ii) a plurality of mesoscale and/or microscale channels in fluid communication with said bioprocessing chamber;

b) performing a pumping sequence on said cartridge, wherein said pumping sequence comprises entering one or more fluid addition cycles wherein fluid is pumped from the one or more containers through one of the fluid flow channels and into the chamber;

wherein the fluid added in any of the fluid addition cycles is the same or different than fluid added in any other of the fluid addition cycles.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said pumping sequence further comprises entering a purging cycle following each fluid addition cycle comprising pumping fluid within the chamber into a designated waste container.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said pumping sequence further comprises entering a circulating cycle after any of the fluid addition cycles, wherein said circulating cycle comprises opening a valve in a fluid flow channel connected to the bottom of the chamber and pumping fluid from the bottom portion of the chamber through one or more fluid flow channels and into a top portion of the chamber.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising initiating and terminating the pumping sequence using a programmable controller.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the pumping sequences performed on each of the cartridges are performed at the same time.

30. An automated bioprocessing system comprising:

a) a bioprocessing device comprising;

i) one or more cartridge slots, each slot configured to receive a bioprocessing cartridge; and

ii) an automated control system, configured to control at least one parameter associated with bioprocessing in one or more bioprocessing cartridges; and

b) one or more bioprocessing cartridges comprising

i) at least one bioprocessing chamber configured to contain a solid support;

ii) a plurality of mesoscale and/or microscale process fluid channels in fluid communication with the bioprocessing chamber through at least one pump, wherein the at least one pump is included in or on the bioprocessing cartridge.