SYSTEM AND METHOD INCLUDING ANALYTICAL UNITS

• US 20130196422A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: WILSON, Brian D., DAVIS, Matthew S., ERICKSON, Matthew D., JOHNSON, Alan N., MAURER, Garrick A., SCHMIDT, Daniel R., WILTSIE, Joshua D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,285,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/289.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/045 whereby the whole cover is slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/043 magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/021 Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 : Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• 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 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 : specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/52 : Containers specially adapted for storing or dispensing a reagent B01L3/02 takes precedence; containers for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; containers in general B65D; storing or dispensing test elements G01N33/4875; automated reagent dispensing G01N35/1002
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 : for laboratory containers
• 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: C12M 41/12 : of temperature controlling the temperature of chemical or physical processes B01J19/0013, heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/34 : Polynucleotides, e.g. nucleic acids, oligoribonucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/68 : involving nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 3/00 : Condition responsive control processes apparatus therefor C12M1/36; controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/24 : by measuring variations of resistance of resistors due to contact with conductor fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/26 : by measuring variations of capacity or inductance of capacitors or inductors arising from the presence of liquid or fluent solid material in the electric or electromagnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/31 : Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/38 : Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00435 : Refrigerated reagent storage
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00752 : bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00851 : process control parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0413 : moving in one dimension
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0415 : moving in two dimensions in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0436 : with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 : Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0475 : electric, e.g. stepper motor, solenoid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1013 : Confirming presence of tip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 : Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1048 : using the transfer device for another function
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1051 : for transporting containers, e.g. retained by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1076 : plurality or independently movable heads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 : Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 : Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0098 : involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1011 : Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 : Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1081 : characterised by the means for relatively moving the transfer device and the containers in an horizontal plane G01N35/1011 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0205 : not using a model or a simulator of the controlled system
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 25/20 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]; Primer or probe design; Probe optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 : with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing and analyzing samples are disclosed. The system may process samples, such as biological fluids, using assay cartridges which can be processed at different processing locations. In some cases, the system can be used for PCR processing. The different processing locations may include a preparation location where samples can be prepared and an analysis location where samples can be analyzed. To assist with the preparation of samples, the system may also include a number of processing stations which may include processing lanes. During the analysis of samples, in some cases, thermal cycler modules and an appropriate optical detection system can be used to detect the presence or absence of certain nucleic acid sequences in the samples. The system can be used to accurately and rapidly process samples.

Claims

1-197. -197. (canceled)

198. A vessel for real time PCR comprising:

a radially symmetrical reaction base, and

a plug comprising a handling feature, the handling feature configured to receive a pipette mandrel.

199. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the lower portion of the reaction base has an angle between about 1 degree and about 10 degrees.

200. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the lower portion of the reaction base has a volume of about 10 μ

L to about 70 μ

L.

201. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the reaction base comprises an upper cylindrical portion that receives the plug and a lower portion, and wherein the lower portion opens into the upper cylindrical portion and comprises a frustum of a conical shape.

202. The vessel of claim 198, comprising of a material having:

a thermal conductivity greater than about 0.1 W/mL;

a Young'"'"'s modulus of about 1.5 GPa to about 2 GPa; and

a frictional coefficient of less than about 0.25.

203. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the material comprises polypropylene.

204. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the upper cylindrical portion has a wall thickness of about 0.010 inches to about 0.05 inches.

205. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the lower portion has a wall thickness of about 0.0005 inches to about 0.02 inches.

206. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the plug comprises an elastomer.

207. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the plug comprises a conductive polymer.

208. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the upper cylindrical portion comprises a locking feature that engages the plug on insertion, the latching feature irreversibly securing the plug.

209. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the plug forms a seal that is resistant to a pressure of at least about 50 psi when the plug is engaged in the upper cylindrical portion of the reaction vessel.

210. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the latching feature of the upper cylindrical portion comprises a plurality of flexible locking tabs, wherein the flexible locking tabs project downwards and centrally, displace outwards on initial insertion of the plug, move centrally on seating of the plug in the reaction vessel, and engage the plug on moving centrally.

211. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the latching feature of the upper cylindrical portion comprises a circumferential ridge, wherein the circumferential ridge projects centrally, and wherein the upper cylindrical portion of the reaction vessel expands radially on initial insertion of the plug, contracts radially on seating of the plug in the reaction vessel, and engages the plug on radial contraction of the upper cylindrical portion of the reaction vessel.

212. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the latching feature of the upper cylindrical portion comprises a plurality of arcuate ridges, the arcuate ridges projecting centrally, and the upper cylindrical portion of the reaction vessel expanding radially on initial insertion of the plug, contracting radially on seating of the plug in the reaction vessel, the arcuate ridges engaging the plug on radial contraction of the upper cylindrical portion of the reaction vessel.

213. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the plug comprises a block of elastomer with a diameter greater than that of the opening of the lower portion of the reaction base.

214. The vessel of claim 198, wherein the handling feature of the plug comprises an essentially cylindrical enclosure comprising:

an inner surface;

an outer surface; and

a longitudinal groove.

215. The vessel of claim 198 wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical enclosure comprises a plurality of projections and wherein the projections are hemispherical.

216. The vessel of claim 199 wherein the vessel is transparent or translucent.

217. The vessel of claim 216 wherein the vessel comprises a polymer.

218-241. -241. (canceled)