MAGNETIC MICROPLATE ASSEMBLY

• US 20130315800A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QIAGEN Gaithersburg, Inc. (Qiagen NV)
• Original Assignee: QIAGEN Gaithersburg, Inc. (Qiagen NV)
• Inventors: YIN, Fei, JEFFREY-COKER, Bandele
• Granted Patent: US 9,079,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/552
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• 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

Abstract

Magnetic microplate assemblies are disclosed for assaying of biological activated magnetic particles from a supernatant. The assemblies include a magnetic microplate holder and a microplate including a plurality of wells for retaining the magnetic particles. The microplate holder includes a plurality of magnets for attracting the magnetic particles to the wells and a plurality of detents for securing the microplate in the holder. The detents allow the microplate to be tightly retained in the holder when the assembly is turned over to discard supernatant and wash buffer applied to rinse supernatant from the magnetic particles.

Claims

1. A microplate assembly for assaying biological material, comprising:

a microplate comprising;

wells for holding biological particles,

an upper platform, the wells being located in the upper platform,

a perimeter wall extending downward from the upper platform and including an upper wall portion and a stepped-out bottom flange; and

a microplate holder for retaining the microplate, the microplate holder comprising;

a bottom wall comprising at least one magnet,

a first end wall located at a first end of the bottom wall,

a second end wall located at a second end of the bottom wall; and

at least one first detent comprising a catch located on an inner surface of the first end wall; and

at least one second detent comprising a second catch located on an inner surface of the second end wall,

wherein the catch of the at least one first detent and the catch of the at least one second detent on the microplate holder are arranged to engage the bottom flange on the microplate, thereby securing the microplate in the microplate holder,

wherein the first end wall or the second end wall on the microplate holder comprises a cut-out portion suitable for gripping the microplate.

2. The microplate assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one first detent and the at least one second detent are arranged to engage a substantially horizontal surface of the microplate.

3. The microplate assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottom flange includes a horizontal ledge joined to the upper wall portion, and wherein the at least one first detent and the at least one second detent are arranged to engage the horizontal ledge.

4. The microplate assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end wall and the second end wall are flexible and resilient, so as to allow end portions of the microplate to be inserted under and removed from under the at least one first detent and the at least one second detent.

5. The microplate assembly of claim 1, wherein the microplate holder comprises substantially open side portions extending between the first end wall and the second end wall.

6. The microplate assembly of claim 1, wherein the catch of the at least one first detent and the catch of the at least one second detent on the microplate holder prevent vertical movement of the microplate during use.

7. The microplate assembly of claim 1, wherein the catch of the at least one first detent and the catch of the at least one second detent on the microplate holder retain the microplate within the microplate holder during inversion or tilting of the microplate assembly.

8. The microplate assembly of claim 7, wherein the bottom wall further comprises:

a third end of the bottom wall between the first end of the bottom wall and the second end of the bottom wall; and

a fourth end of the bottom wall, opposite the third end, and arranged between the first end of the bottom wall and the second end of the bottom wall,

wherein the open side portions extend across the entire third end and the entire fourth end of the bottom wall.

9. The microplate assembly of claim 7, wherein a width of the bottom wall at the third end or the fourth end is less than a width of the bottom wall at the first end or the second end.

47. The microplate assembly of claim 1, wherein the cut-out portion extends from an upper edge of the first end wall or the second end wall towards a lower edge of the first end wall or the second end wall, and

wherein a height of the first end wall or the second end wall at the cut-out portion is less than a height of the first end wall or the second end wall surrounding the cut-out portion.

10. A microplate holder suitable for holding a microplate for assaying biological material, the microplate holder comprising:

a bottom wall comprising at least one magnet,

a first end wall located at a first end of the bottom wall,

a second end wall located at a second end of the bottom wall; and

at least one first detent comprising a catch located on an inner surface of the first end wall; and

at least one second detent comprising a second catch located on an inner surface of the second end wall,

wherein the microplate comprises;

an upper platform; and

a perimeter wall extending downward from the upper platform and including an upper wall portion and a stepped-out bottom flange,

wherein the catch of the at least one first detent and the catch of the at least one second detent on the microplate holder are arranged to engage the bottom flange on the microplate thereby securing the microplate in the microplate holder,

wherein the first end wall or the second end wall on the microplate holder comprises a cut-out portion suitable for gripping the microplate.

11. The microplate holder of claim 10, wherein the at least one first detent and the at least one second detent are arranged to engage a substantially horizontal surface of the microplate.

12. The microplate holder of claim 10, wherein the microplate holder is suitable for holding a microplate wherein the bottom flange of the microplate includes a horizontal ledge joined to the upper wall portion, and wherein the at least one first detent and the at least one second detent of the microplate holder are arranged to engage the horizontal ledge of the microplate.

13. The microplate holder of claim 10, wherein the first end wall and the second end wall are flexible and resilient, so as to allow end portions of the microplate to be inserted under and removed from under the at least one first detent and the at least one second detent.

14. The microplate holder of claim 10, further comprising substantially open side portions extending between the first end wall and the second end wall.

15. A microplate assembly for assaying biological material, comprising:

a microplate comprising wells for holding biological particles; and

a microplate holder for retaining the microplate, the microplate holder comprising;

a bottom wall,

a first end wall located at a first end of the bottom wall,

a second end wall located at a second end of the bottom wall,

a pair of side walls extending between the first end wall and the second end wall,

at least one first resilient detent located on an inner surface of the first end wall, the at least one first detent being compressible towards the first end wall,

at least one second resilient detent located on an inner surface of the second end wall, the at least one first detent being compressible towards the second end wall, and

a pair of catch members located near or on the first end wall,

wherein the microplate comprises;

an upper platform, the wells being located in the upper platform; and

a perimeter wall extending downward from the upper platform and including an upper wall portion and a stepped-out bottom flange, and

wherein the at least one first resilient detent, the at least one second resilient detent, and the catch members are arranged at a height above the bottom wall to engage the microplate and secure the bottom flange on the microplate below the first resilient detent, the second resilient detent, and the catch members on the microplate holder.

16. The microplate assembly of claim 15, wherein the microplate holder comprises at least one magnet located in the bottom wall.

17. The microplate assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one first resilient detent and the at least one second resilient detent each comprise a ball-and-spring plunger.

18. The microplate assembly of claim 15, wherein the catch members comprise dowel pins extending from the side walls.

19. The microplate assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one first resilient detent, the at least one second resilient detent and the catch members are arranged to engage the bottom flange on the microplate, wherein the bottom flange comprises a substantially horizontal surface of the microplate.

20. The microplate assembly of claim 15, wherein the bottom flange of the microplate includes a horizontal ledge joined to the upper wall portion, and wherein the at least one first resilient detent, the at least one second resilient detent and the catch members are arranged to engage the horizontal ledge.

21. The microplate assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one first resilient detent and the at least one second resilient detent allow end portions of the microplate to be inserted under and removed from under the at least one first resilient detent, the at least one second resilient detent and the catch members.

22. The microplate assembly of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first side walls comprises an open section suitable for gripping and for draining liquid from the microplate.

23. The microplate assembly of claim 15, comprising recesses located at corners of the microplate holder, the recesses allowing gripping of the microplate.

24. A microplate holder suitable for holding a microplate for assaying biological material, the microplate holder comprising:

a bottom wall,

a first end wall located at a first end of the bottom wall,

a second end wall located at a second end of the bottom wall,

a pair of side walls extending between the first end wall and the second end wall,

a least one first resilient detent located on an inner surface of the first end wall, the at least one first detent being compressible towards the first end wall,

at least one second resilient detent located on an inner surface of the second end wall, the at least one first detent being compressible towards the second end wall, and

a pair of catch members located near or on the first end wall,

wherein the microplate comprises;

an upper platform, the wells being located in the upper platform; and

a perimeter wall extending downward from the upper platform and including an upper wall portion and a stepped-out bottom flange, and

wherein the at least one first resilient detent, the at least one second resilient detent, and the catch members are arranged at a height above the bottom wall to engage the microplate and secure the bottom flange on the microplate below the first resilient detent, the second resilient detent, and the catch members on the microplate holder.

25. The microplate holder of claim 24, comprising at least one magnet located in the bottom wall.

26. The microplate holder of claim 24, wherein the at least one first resilient detent and the at least one second resilient detent each comprise a ball-and-spring plunger.

27. The microplate holder of claim 24, wherein the catch members comprise dowel pins extending from the side walls.

28. The microplate holder of claim 24, wherein the at least one first resilient detent, the at least one second resilient detent and the catch members are arranged to engage a substantially horizontal surface of the microplate.

29. The microplate holder of claim 24, wherein the microplate holder is suitable for holding a microplate wherein the bottom flange of the microplate includes a horizontal ledge joined to the upper wall portion, and wherein the at least one first resilient detent, the at least one second resilient detent and the catch members are arranged to engage the horizontal ledge.

30. The microplate holder of claim 24, wherein the at least one first resilient detent and the at least one second resilient detent allow end portions of the microplate to be inserted under and removed from under the at least one first resilient detent, the at least one second resilient detent and the catch members.

31. The microplate holder of claim 24, wherein at least one of the first side walls comprises an open section suitable for gripping and for draining liquid from the microplate.

32. The microplate holder of claim 24, comprising corners and recesses located at the corners, the recesses allowing gripping of the microplate.

33. A microplate holder suitable for holding a microplate comprising wells for holding a test sample, the microplate holder comprising magnets for magnetic separation of material in the test sample containing or bound to ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material and

wherein the ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material remains within the wells of the microplate by magnets attached to the microplate holder by magnetic attraction to the microplate, and

wherein the microplate holder further comprises:

a bottom wall,

a first end wall located at a first end of the bottom wall,

a second end wall located at a second end of the bottom wall; and

at least one first detent comprising a catch located on an inner surface of the first end wall; and

at least one second detent comprising a second catch located on an inner surface of the second end wall,

wherein the first end wall or the second end wall on the microplate holder comprises a cut-out portion suitable for gripping the microplate.

34. The microplate holder of claim 33, wherein the at least one first detent and the at least second detent are securing means for attaching a microplate to the microplate holder, said securing means allowing inversion of the microplate holder and attached microplate such that the contents of the microplate may be emptied.

35. A microplate assembly for assaying biological material, comprising:

a microplate comprising;

wells for holding biological particles,

an upper platform, the wells being located in the upper platform,

a perimeter wall extending downward from the upper platform and including an upper wall portion and a stepped-out bottom flange; and

a microplate holder for retaining the microplate, the microplate holder comprising;

a bottom wall,

a first end wall located at a first end of the bottom wall,

a second end wall located at a second end of the bottom wall;

at least one first catch located on an inner surface of the first end wall;

at least one second catch located on an inner surface of the second end wall; and

at least one magnet positioned on the bottom wall;

wherein the first catch and the second catch on the microplate holder are arranged to engage the bottom flange on the microplate, thereby securing the microplate in the microplate holder; and

wherein the magnet on the microplate holder is suitable for retaining magnetic particles in the wells on the microplate.

36. The microplate assembly of claim 35, wherein the microplate holder comprises at least one circular magnet.

37. The microplate assembly of claim 35, wherein the magnet on the microplate holder is circular.

38. The microplate assembly of claim 35, wherein the number and arrangement of magnets on the microplate holder are the same as the number and arrangement of the wells on the microplate.

39. The microplate assembly of claim 35, wherein the first and second catches are arranged to engage a substantially horizontal surface of the microplate.

40. The microplate assembly of claim 35,

wherein the bottom flange on the microplate includes a horizontal ledge joined to the upper wall portion,

wherein the first and second catches on the microplate holder are arranged to engage the horizontal ledge on the microplate, and

wherein the microplate is inserted under and removed from under the first and second catches on the microplate holder.

41. The microplate assembly of claim 35, wherein at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall of the microplate holder comprises a cut-out portion suitable for gripping.

42. The microplate assembly of claim 35, wherein the microplate holder comprises substantially open side portions extending between the first end wall and the second end wall.

43. The microplate assembly of claim 35, wherein the first and second catches on the microplate holder prevent vertical movement of the microplate during use.

44. The microplate assembly of claim 35, wherein the first and second catches on the microplate holder retain the microplate within the microplate holder during inversion or tilting of the microplate assembly.

45. The microplate assembly of claim 35, wherein the wells on the microplate comprise magnetic particles.

46. The microplate assembly of claim 45, wherein the magnetic particles are retained in the wells on the microplate by the circular magnets on the microplate holder during inversion or tilting of the microplate assembly.