REUSABLE BELT WITH A MATRIX OF WELLS

• US 20160018428A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas Scientific LLC
• Original Assignee: Douglas Scientific LLC
• Inventors: Mische, Hans Alois, Cook, Darren Lynn
• Application Number:
  US14/776,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20160018428A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2535/00 Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses, catheter medical patches B32B2556/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/04 Punching, slitting or perforating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/06 Embossing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/023 forming cuvettes in situ, e.g. from plastic strip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0437 Cleaning cuvettes or reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/021 having a flexible chain, e.g. "cartridge belt", conveyor for reaction cells or cuvettes
• 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

Abstract

A system for processing and analyzing a sample includes a belt with wells that proceeds through the system, a dispensing station that dispenses the sample and reagents into the wells of the belt, and a detection station that detects an analyte in the wells of the belt. The system further includes a wash and decontamination station for decontaminating the wells of the belt.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A system for processing and analyzing a sample, the system comprising:

a belt that proceeds through the system, the belt including a plurality of wells;

a dispensing station that dispenses the sample and reagents into the plurality of wells of the belt;

a detection station that detects an analyte in the plurality of wells of the belt; and

a wash and decontamination station for decontaminating the plurality of wells of the belt.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the wash and decontamination station comprises:

a washing station for washing the plurality of wells of the belt;

a vacuum station for applying a vacuum to the plurality of wells of the belt;

a decontamination station for applying a chemical solution or radiation to the plurality of wells of the belt; and

a drying station for drying the plurality of wells of the belt.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the wash and decontamination station is contained within a sealed chamber.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of wells of the belt is arranged in a plurality of matrices.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the belt includes a plurality of gaps and each matrix of the plurality of matrices covers one of the plurality of gaps of the belt.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of wells is on a top side of the belt and the dispensing station is positioned above the belt such that the dispensing station dispenses the sample and the reagents into the plurality of wells of the belt from above the belt.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the detection station is positioned above the belt such that the detection station detects the analyte in the plurality of wells of the belt from above the belt.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the detection station is positioned below the belt such that the detection station detects the analyte in the plurality of wells of the belt from below the belt.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the wash and decontamination station includes a wash basin for submerging the belt to decontaminate the plurality of wells.

40. The system of claim 31, and further comprising an incubation station for incubating the belt so that a reaction can take place in the plurality of wells of the belt.

41. The system of claim 31, and further comprising a cover seal dispensing station for applying a cover seal to the plurality of wells of the belt.

42. The system of claim 41, and further comprising a cover seal removal station for removing the cover seal from the plurality of wells of the belt.

43. A method for processing and analyzing a sample in a system, the method comprising:

advancing a belt with a plurality of wells through the system to a dispensing station of the system;

dispensing a sample and reagents into the plurality of wells of the belt;

advancing the belt to a detection station of the system;

detecting an analyte in the sample in the plurality of wells of the belt;

advancing the belt to a wash and decontamination station of the system; and

decontaminating the plurality of wells of the belt.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein decontaminating the plurality of wells of the belt is selected from the group consisting of washing the plurality of wells of the belt, applying a vacuum to the plurality of wells of the belt, applying a chemical solution or radiation to the plurality of wells of the belt, and combinations thereof.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein decontaminating the plurality of wells of the belt further includes drying the plurality of wells of the belt.

46. The method of claim 43, and further comprising:

advancing the belt to an incubation station of the system after dispensing the sample and reagents into the plurality of wells of the belt; and

incubating the belt so that a reaction can take place in the plurality of wells of the belt prior to advancing the belt to the detection station of the system.

47. The method of claim 43, and further comprising:

advancing the belt to a cover seal dispensing station of the system after dispensing the sample and reagents into the plurality of wells of the belt; and

applying a cover seal to the plurality of wells of the belt prior to advancing the belt to the detection station of the system.

48. The method of claim 47, and further comprising:

advancing the belt to a cover seal removal station after detecting an analyte in the sample in the plurality of wells of the belt; and

removing the cover seal from the plurality of wells of the belt prior to advancing the belt to the wash and decontamination station of the system.

49. The method of claim 47, and further comprising:

advancing the belt to an incubation station of the system after applying the cover seal to the plurality of wells of the belt; and

incubating the belt so that a reaction can take place in the plurality of wells of the belt prior to advancing the belt to the detection station of the system.

50. The method of claim 49, and further comprising:

advancing the belt to a cover seal removal station after detecting an analyte in the sample in the plurality of wells of the belt; and

removing the cover seal from the plurality of wells of the belt prior to advancing the belt to the wash and decontamination station of the system.