AMPLIFICATION AND ARRAY LOADING APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20130288873A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jones, Ryan, Leamon, John, Schultz, Jonathan, Hoshizaki, Jon A., BARBEE, Kristopher, McCusker, Sean, Carpino, Maximilan
• Granted Patent: US 9,346,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 494/9
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 13/00 Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Programme control of centrifuges control arrangements for feed, charge, or discharge B04B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 5/0421 pivotably mounted
• 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: C12Q 1/6869 Methods for sequencing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00495 Centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1013 Confirming presence of tip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/103 using disposable tips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00693 Calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1011 Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device

Abstract

An apparatus includes a robotic system providing movement in three orthogonal directions to an arm operable to receive a pipette tip and to facilitate movement of fluid into and out of the pipette tip. In addition, the apparatus can include a tray for receiving pipette tips, receptacles for receiving tubes, an apparatus for forming an emulsion, a device for forming particles that include copies of the polynucleotide, a device for enriching the particles and an apparatus for loading such particles onto a sensor array. The apparatus can further include receptacles for holding containers of reagent solutions. Optionally, the robot can include a gripper arm in addition to the pipette receiving arm.

Claims

1. A centrifuge device comprising:

a motor operable to spin in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction;

a rotor coupled to a motor, the rotor to spin within a plane in the first direction or the second direction responsive to the motor, the rotor having a recess and an axle projecting from a side of the recess; and

a carrier slidably and pivotally coupled to the axle, the carrier including a first tab on a first side and a second tab on a second side, the carrier to slide along the axle and to rotate about the axle out of the plane and engage the rotor with the first tab at a first angle in response to the rotor spinning in the first direction, the carrier to slide along the axle and to rotate about the axle out of the plane and engage the rotor with the second tab at a second angle in response to the rotor spinning in the second direction.

2. The centrifuge device of claim 1, wherein the carrier is configured to receive a sequencing component including two fluid ports.

3. The centrifuge device of claim 2, wherein the two fluid ports are to face inward toward an axis of spinning of the rotor.

4. The centrifuge device of claim 2, further comprising a fastener to secure the sequencing component to the carrier.

5. The centrifuge device of claim 4, wherein the fastener includes elements to engage the two fluid ports of the sequencing component.

6. The centrifuge device of claim 1, wherein the first angle is in a range of 70°

to 110°

relative to the plane.

7. The centrifuge device of claim 6, wherein the first angle is in a range of 80°

to 95°

relative to the plane.

8. The centrifuge device of claim 1, wherein the second angle is in a range of 20°

to 65°

relative to the plane.

9. The centrifuge device of claim 8, wherein the second angle is in a range of 35°

to 50°

relative to the plane.

10. The centrifuge device of claim 1, wherein the axle extends at least partially across the recess, the carrier at least partially in the recess when the rotor is stationary.

11. A method comprising:

spinning a rotor within a plane in a first direction, a carrier coupled to the rotor by an axle, the carrier sliding along the axle and rotating about the axle to engage the rotor with a first tab at a first angle in response to the rotor spinning in the first direction; and

spinning the rotor within the plane in a second direction, the carrier sliding along the axle and rotating about the axle to engage the rotor with a second tab at a second angle in response to the rotor spinning in the second direction, the first angle being greater than the second angle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the carrier is configured to receive a sequencing component including two fluid ports.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the two fluid ports are to face inward toward an axis of spinning of the rotor.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising engaging a fastener to secure the sequencing component to the carrier.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fastener includes elements to engage the two fluid ports of the sequencing component.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising inserting a solution including polynucleotide beads in the sequencing component prior to spinning.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a portion of the solution exits at least one of the two fluid ports when spinning at the second angle.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first angle is in a range of 70°

to 110°

relative to the plane.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the second angle is in a range of 20°

to 65°

relative to the plane.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the axle extends at least partially across the recess, the carrier at least partially in the recess when the rotor is stationary.