CASSETTE FOR SAMPLE PREPARATION

• US 20100239471A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Genturadx-USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Phillip You Fai, Hu, David Hsiang, Yu, Steve Jia Chang, Ching, Jesus
• Granted Patent: US 8,124,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/186.10
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2035/99 Heating
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/65 the materials to be mixed being directly submitted to a pulsating movement, e.g. by means of an oscillating piston or air column
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/712 for feeding fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/715 Feeding the components in several steps, e.g. successive steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/90 Heating or cooling systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• 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 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0633 : with moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 : rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 : mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 : with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 : Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/01 : by addition of magnetic adjuvants
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/286 : disposed at the inner circumference of a recipient, e.g. magnetic drain bolt
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/18 : Magnetic separation whereby the particles are suspended in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/20 : Magnetic separation whereby the particles to be separated are in solid form
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1013 : by using magnetic beads
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 : Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/38 : Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 : Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0407 : Repairing or assembling hydrant [e.g., fireplug, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0413 : Gas or water meter repairing or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0419 : Fluid cleaning or flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0424 : Liquid cleaning or flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 : Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 : Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/118339 : with formation of a segmented stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 : including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A cassette for preparing a sample is disclosed herein. The cassette includes a housing, which encloses the structures and the processes used to prepare the sample.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first housing defining a first chamber, a second chamber and an opening in fluid communication with the first chamber, the first chamber configured to contain at least a sample and a plurality of magnetic particles;

a valve at least partially disposed within the first housing, the valve configured to transfer the plurality of magnetic particles between the first chamber and the second chamber while maintaining fluidic isolation between the first chamber and the second chamber;

a second housing defining a reagent chamber configured to contain a reagent; and

a plunger at least partially disposed within the reagent chamber, a portion of the second housing configured to be disposed within the first chamber of the first housing via the opening such that the reagent can be transferred from the reagent chamber to the first chamber of the first housing when the plunger is moved.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reagent chamber is a first reagent chamber, the reagent is a first reagent and the plunger is a first plunger, the second housing defining a second reagent chamber configured to contain a second reagent, the apparatus further comprising:

a second plunger at least partially disposed within the second reagent chamber, a portion of the second housing configured to be disposed within the first chamber of the first housing via the opening such that the second reagent can be transferred from the second reagent chamber to the first chamber of the first housing when the second plunger is moved.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second housing includes an attachment portion configured to be matingly coupled to an attachment portion of the first housing when the portion of the second housing is disposed within the first chamber of the first housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second housing includes a seal member configured to form a seal between the second housing and the first housing when the portion of the second housing is disposed within the first chamber of the first housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second housing includes a puncturable portion defining a portion of a boundary of the reagent chamber; and

the plunger includes a protrusion configured to puncture the puncturable portion when the plunger is moved.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pump coupled to the second housing, the pump configured to mix the reagent with the sample disposed within first chamber of the first housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a valve housing and a valve member, the valve housing defining a first opening in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second opening in fluid communication with the second chamber,

the valve member defining a cavity in fluid communication with the first opening when the valve member is in a first position, the cavity in fluid communication with the second opening when the valve member is in a second position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a valve housing and a valve member, the valve member movably disposed within the valve housing, the valve member defining an opening configured to receive a magnetic shaft.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a first housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber configured to contain at least a sample and a plurality of magnetic particles;

a valve at least partially disposed within the first housing, the valve configured to transfer the plurality of magnetic particles between the first chamber and the second chamber while maintaining fluidic isolation between the first chamber and the second chamber;

a second housing defining a reagent chamber configured to contain a reagent, the second housing configured to be coupled to the first housing such that the reagent chamber can be placed in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing; and

a plunger at least partially disposed within the reagent chamber, the plunger configured to transfer the reagent from the reagent chamber to the first chamber of the first housing when the plunger is moved.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the reagent chamber is a first reagent chamber configured to contain a first reagent, the first reagent chamber configured to be placed in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing via a first pathway; and

the second housing defines a second reagent chamber configured to contain a second reagent, the second reagent chamber configured to be placed in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing via a second pathway different from the first pathway.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reagent chamber is a first reagent chamber, the reagent is a first reagent and the plunger is a first plunger, the second housing defining a second reagent chamber configured to contain a second reagent, the apparatus further comprising:

a second plunger at least partially disposed within the second reagent chamber, the second plunger configured to transfer the second reagent from the second reagent chamber to the first chamber of the first housing when the second plunger is moved.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second housing includes an attachment portion configured to be matingly coupled to an attachment portion of the first housing when the second housing is coupled to the first housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the first housing defines an opening in fluid communication with the first chamber; and

a portion of the second housing is disposed within the first chamber of the first housing when the second housing is coupled to the first housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the second housing includes a puncturable portion defining a portion of a boundary of the reagent chamber; and

the plunger includes a protrusion configured to puncture the puncturable portion to place the reagent chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the valve includes a valve housing and a valve member, the valve housing defining a first opening in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second opening in fluid communication with the second chamber,

the valve member defining a cavity in fluid communication with the first opening when the valve member is in a first position, the cavity in fluid communication with the second opening when the valve member is in a second position.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a pump coupled to the first housing, the pump configured to mix the sample within the second chamber, the pump including an actuator portion disposed outside of the first housing and an elongate tip disposed within the second chamber.

10. The apparatus of 9, further comprising:

a pump coupled to the second housing, the pump fluidically coupled to an elongate tip disposed at least partially within the first chamber of the first housing, the pump configured to mix the reagent with the sample disposed within first chamber of the first housing.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a first housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber configured to contain at least a sample and a plurality of magnetic particles;

a valve at least partially disposed within the first housing, the valve configured to transfer the plurality of magnetic particles between the first chamber and the second chamber while maintaining fluidic isolation between the first chamber and the second chamber; and

a second housing defining a reagent chamber configured to contain a reagent, the second housing configured to be coupled to the first housing such that the reagent chamber can be placed in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing; and

a pump coupled to the second housing, the pump fluidically coupled to an elongate tip disposed at least partially within the first chamber of the first housing, the pump configured to convey the sample and the reagent between the first chamber of the first housing and an interior volume of the second housing.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the reagent chamber is configured to be placed in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing via a first pathway; and

the interior volume of the second housing is configured to be placed in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing via a second pathway different from the first pathway, the second pathway including the elongate tip.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a plunger at least partially disposed within the reagent chamber, the plunger configured to transfer the reagent from the reagent chamber to the first chamber of the first housing when the plunger is moved.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the reagent chamber is a first reagent chamber containing a first reagent, the first reagent chamber configured to be placed in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing via a first pathway; and

the second housing defines a second reagent chamber configured to contain a second reagent, the second reagent chamber configured to be placed in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing via a second pathway different from the first pathway.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second housing includes a seal member configured to form a seal between the second housing and the first housing when the second housing is coupled to the first housing.