SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FLUID HANDLING

• US 20130078733A1
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Labrador Diagnostics LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Theranos Incorporated
• Inventors: Holmes, Elizabeth, Roy, Joy, Frankovick, John Kent
• Granted Patent: US 8,475,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/174
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0631 Purification arrangements, e.g. solid phase extraction [SPE]
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/082 Handling hazardous material
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0217 of the plunger pump type medical syringes A61M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5021 Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes centrifuges B04B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/523 with means for closing or opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00277 Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00 : Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1072 : with provision for selective pipetting of individual channels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Claims

1. A fluid handling apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pipette heads, wherein an individual pipette head comprises a pipette nozzle configured to connect with a tip that is removable from the pipette nozzle;

a plurality of plungers that are individually movable, wherein at least one plunger is within a pipette head and is movable within the pipette head; and

an actuator configured to effect independent movement of individual plungers of the plurality.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of plungers are capable of removing at least one individually selected tip from the pipette nozzle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a motor and is configured to permit independent movement of the plurality of tip removal mechanisms.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one tip removal mechanism is external to the pipette head.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one tip removal mechanism is a collar wrapping around at least a portion of the pipette head.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of switches, an individual switch having an on position and an off position, wherein the on position permits the plunger associated with the individual switch to move in response to movement by the motor, and wherein the off position does not permit the plunger associated with the individual switch to move in response to movement by the actuator.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the switch is a solenoid.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the switch is operated by a cam operably linked to an additional actuator.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is characterized in that (1) it has a height, width, and length each of which dimension does not exceed 20 cm.

27. A method of transporting fluidic or a non-fluidic component comprising:

providing an apparatus of claim 1;

transporting from one location to another location the fluidic or the non-fluidic component with the aid of at least a pipette nozzle of said apparatus that is configured to connect with a removable tip, wherein the individual pipette head is capable of dispensing and/or aspirating a fluid, or engaging the non-fluidic component to effect said transportation.

9. A fluid handling apparatus comprising:

at least one pipette head, wherein an individual pipette head comprises a pipette nozzle configured to connect with a tip that is removable from said nozzle;

at least one plunger within a pipette head of said plurality, and wherein the plunger is configured to be movable within the pipette head; and

at least one actuator configured to permit movement of the plurality of plungers that are not substantially parallel to the removable tip.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plunger is capable of moving in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the removable tip.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plunger is capable of moving in a horizontal direction, and wherein the removable tip is aligned vertically.

24. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is characterized in that (1) it has a height, width, and length each of which dimension does not exceed 20 cm.

28. A method of transporting fluidic or a non-fluidic component comprising:

providing an apparatus of claim 9;

transporting from one location to another location the fluidic or the non-fluidic component with the aid of at least a pipette nozzle of said apparatus that is configured to connect with a removable tip, wherein the individual pipette head is capable of dispensing and/or aspirating a fluid, or engaging the non-fluidic component to effect said transportation.

12. A fluid handling apparatus comprising:

at least one pipette head, wherein the at least one pipette head comprises a pipette nozzle configured to connect with a tip that is removable from said nozzle, wherein the tip has a (i) proximal end engageable with the nozzle and (ii) a distal end; and

a base connected to the at least one pipette head,

wherein said at least one pipette head provides a continuous fluid path of a given length that terminates at the distal end of the tip when the tip is engaged with the pipette nozzle,

and wherein the length of the continuous fluid path is adjustable by moving the pipette nozzle relative to the base without affecting movement of fluid from the tip when the tip and the pipette nozzle are engaged.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein pipette nozzle is movable relative to the base by moving uniaxially relative to the base.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fluid path is formed using rigid components.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a ventilation port within the pipette head, said port having an open position and a closed position, physically independent of the position of a plunger within the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a solenoid and/or a valve that control opening or closing of the ventilation port, physically independent of the position of a plunger within the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the ventilation port is coupled to a positive pressure source that is useful for the expulsion of the fluid, and/or a negative pressure source that is useful for the aspiration of the fluid.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the ventilation port is coupled to a reversible pump capable of delivering positive or negative pressure.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the removable tip comprises two openings, each of which has an embedded passive valve.

25. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is characterized in that (1) it has a height, width, and length each of which dimension does not exceed 20 cm.

29. A method of transporting fluidic or a non-fluidic component comprising:

providing an apparatus of claim 12;

transporting from one location to another location the fluidic or the non-fluidic component with the aid of at least a pipette nozzle of said apparatus that is configured to connect with a removable tip, wherein the individual pipette head is capable of dispensing and/or aspirating a fluid, or engaging the non-fluidic component to effect said transportation.

31. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising tubing terminating at the pipette nozzle, forming at least a portion of the fluid path.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the tubing comprises a rigid inner tubing and a rigid outer tubing, wherein the rigid inner tubing is movable with respect to the outer tubing.

33. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the length of the fluid path is adjustable by moving the pipette nozzle relative to a plunger and the base within the apparatus without affecting movement of fluid from the tip when the tip and the pipette nozzle are engaged.

34. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a plunger within the apparatus, said plunger having a proximate end closer to the pipette nozzle and a distal end further from the pipette nozzle, and the length of the fluid path starts at a proximate end of the plunger.

35. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the base is connected to a plurality of pipette heads.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein a plurality of pipette nozzles are independently movable relative to the base.

37. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a motor that effects the movement of said pipette nozzle relative to said base.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a motor that effects the movement of said plurality of pipette nozzles relative to said base.

39. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fluid path comprises a liquid.

40. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fluid path comprises a liquid and a gas.

20. A fluid handling apparatus comprising:

a removable tip; and

at least one pipette head, wherein an individual pipette head comprises a pipette nozzle configured to connect with the tip that is removable from said pipette nozzle,

wherein the apparatus is operably connected to a image capture device that is configured to capture an image within and/or through the tip.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the image capture device is located within at least one pipette head.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the image capture device is a camera and optionally the tip is a waveguide.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is characterized in that (1) it has a height, width, and length each of which dimension does not exceed 20 cm.

30. A method of transporting fluidic or a non-fluidic component comprising:

providing an apparatus of claim 20;

transporting from one location to another location the fluidic or the non-fluidic component with the aid of at least a pipette nozzle of said apparatus that is configured to connect with a removable tip, wherein the individual pipette head is capable of dispensing and/or aspirating a fluid, or engaging the non-fluidic component to effect said transportation.