Systems and Methods for Fluid Handling

• US 20140186238A1
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• 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, Frankovich, John Kent
• Granted Patent: US 9,592,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/550
• 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

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A vessel, comprising:

a body configured to accept and confine a sample of no more than about 100 □

L, wherein the body comprises an interior surface, an exterior surface, and an open end;

a cap engageable with the open end of the body, wherein upon engagement (i) the cap encompasses the open end of the body, or vice versa, and (ii) the cap encompasses in whole or in part the length of a passageway extending through the cap into the body; and

a flexible material that extends across the passageway, wherein the flexible material has a slit or opening that is configured to prevent fluid from passing through the flexible material when the slit or opening is not traversed by an object,

wherein the cap and the flexible material are separable from each other.

22. The vessel of claim 21, wherein the flexible material is a membrane.

23. The vessel of claim 21, wherein the body has a cylindrical portion of a first diameter having an open end and a closed end, and a funnel shaped portioned contacting the open end, wherein one end of the funnel shaped portion contacting the open end has a first diameter, and a second end of the funnel shaped portion has a second diameter.

24. The vessel of claim 23, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.

25. The vessel of claim 23, wherein the second end of the funnel shaped portion is engageable with the cap.

26. The vessel of claim 21, wherein the vessel is configured to engage with the pipette by permitting a pipette tip to enter the open end of the body of the vessel.

27. The vessel of claim 21, wherein the flexible material is formed from a silicon-based material.

28. The vessel of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the cap extends into the interior of the body.

29. The vessel of claim 21, wherein said slit or opening is sealable.

30. The vessel of claim 21, wherein the body further comprises:

an opposing closed end; and

a protruding feature on said interior surface,

wherein said open end of the body is configured to accept a tip by insertion of an open end of the tip into the body, and

wherein said protruding feature prevents said open end of the tip from contacting the closed end of the interior surface of the body.

31. The vessel of claim 30, wherein the protruding feature is at or near the opposing closed end of the body.

32. The vessel of claim 30, wherein the opposing closed end is the bottom of the interior surface of the body.

33. The vessel of claim 30, wherein the protruding feature is integrally formed on the bottom of the interior surface of the body.

34. The vessel of claim 30, wherein the protruding feature comprises a plurality of bumps on the bottom of the interior surface of the body.

35. The vessel of claim 21, wherein the cap has a larger interior volume than the body.

36. The vessel of claim 21, wherein the flexible material is supported between the open end of the body and an interior shelf of the cap.

37. The vessel of claim 21, wherein said flexible material is supported against said body with the aid of the cap.

38. The vessel of claim 21, wherein, upon the cap engaging the open end of the body, the cap secures the flexible material against the body.

39. The vessel of claim 21, wherein the cap comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is dimensioned to be engageable with the open end of the body and the second end is dimensioned to be engageable with a fluid handling apparatus, and wherein upon said engagement, the vessel is movable together with said fluid handling apparatus.

40. The vessel of claim 39, wherein the slit or opening is dimensioned to engage with the fluid handling apparatus for dispensing and/or aspirating said sample, wherein upon said engagement with said fluid handling apparatus, said sample passes only through said fluid handling apparatus.

41. The vessel of claim 21, wherein the flexible material is substantially planar with respect to the open end of the body and is impermeable to the sample.

42. A vessel, comprising:

a body configured to accept and confine a sample, wherein the body comprises an interior surface, an exterior surface, an open end and an opposing closed end, wherein said open end of the body is configured to accept a tip by insertion of an open end of the tip into the body;

a cap engageable with the open end of the body, wherein upon engagement (i) the cap encompasses the open end of the body, or vice versa, and (ii) the cap encompasses in whole or in part the length of a passageway extending through the cap into the body;

a protruding feature on said interior surface of the body, wherein said protruding feature prevents said open end of the tip from contacting the closed end of the interior surface of the body; and

a flexible material extending across the passageway and having a slit or opening that is configured to prevent fluid from passing through the flexible material when the slit or opening is not traversed by an object.

43. The vessel of claim 42, wherein the protruding feature is at or near the opposing closed end of the body.

44. The vessel of claim 42, wherein the opposing closed end is the bottom of the interior surface of the body.

45. The vessel of claim 42, wherein the protruding feature is integrally formed on the bottom of the interior surface of the body.

46. The vessel of claim 42, wherein the protruding feature comprises a plurality of bumps on the bottom of the interior surface of the body.

47. The vessel of claim 42, wherein the cap has a larger interior volume than the body.

48. The vessel of claim 42, wherein the flexible material is supported between the open end of the body and an interior shelf of the cap.

49. The vessel of claim 42, wherein said flexible material is supported against said body with the aid of the cap.

50. The vessel of claim 42, wherein at least a portion of the cap extends into the interior of the body.

51. The vessel of claim 42, wherein the body has a cylindrical portion of a first diameter having an open end and a closed end, and a funnel shaped portioned contacting the open end, wherein one end of the funnel shaped portion contacting the open end has a first diameter, and a second end of the funnel shaped portion has a second diameter.

52. The vessel of claim 51, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.

53. The vessel of claim 51, wherein the second end of the funnel shaped portion is engageable with the cap.

54. The vessel of claim 42, wherein the cap comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is dimensioned to be engageable with the open end of the body and the second end is dimensioned to be engageable with a fluid handling apparatus, and wherein upon said engagement, the vessel is movable together with said fluid handling apparatus.

55. The vessel of claim 54, wherein the slit or opening is dimensioned to engage with the fluid handling apparatus for dispensing and/or aspirating said sample, wherein upon said engagement with said fluid handling apparatus, said sample passes only through said fluid handling apparatus.

56. The vessel of claim 42, wherein the flexible material is substantially planar with respect to the open end of the body and is impermeable to the sample.