Infinitesimal liquid reactor

• US 5,102,623 A
• Filed: 10/11/1988
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Segawa, Osamu, Yagi, Shigeki, Sakabe, Munechika, Kobayashi, Kiyoshi, Yamamoto, Tomoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blythe, Stephanie
• Application Number:
  US07/255,474
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/65, 422/100, 436/47, 436/48, 436/180, 73/864.24, 73/864.25, 141/130
• US Class Current: 422/63
• 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: G01N 2035/00435 Refrigerated reagent storage
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/103 using disposable tips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1011 Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1083 with one horizontal degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An automatic infinitesimal liquid reactor equipped with a pipetter for dispensing reagents employs two stages which are capable of sliding horizontally. A microplate which has a plurality of recesses in rows is placed in one stage and reagent bottles are placed on the other stage. The pipetter is supported on a horizontal guide rail operating slidably horizontally and along an axis perpendicular to the direction in which the two stages slide. The horizontal guide rail is supported on a vertical guide rail so as to operate slidably in a vertical direction. Thus the pipetter can be moved in a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the two stages slide. When reagents are sucked from reagent bottles, the second stage is slid so that a reagent bottle is superposed below the pipetter and the pipetter is moved downwardly into the reagent bottle to draw in a reagent. When the reagent is discharged, the first stage is slid so that the microplate is superposed below the pipetter and the pipetter is moved downwardly into a recess to discharge the reagent, thereby dispensing a reagent efficiently and minimizing the space required for the reactor.

Claims

1. An infinitesimal liquid reactor comprising:

first and second stages slidably mounted one above the other for movement in a first direction between a storage position and a working position;

means connected to said first and second stages for moving each of said first and second stages individually between said storage and working positions;

a sample cell carried by said first stage;

means carried by said second stage for storing a plurality of reagents;

pipetting means for drawing in and discharging a dose of fluid, said pipetting means including an end carrying a replaceable tip defining a space for storing a dose of fluid;

displacing means associated with said pipetting means for moving at least said end in a second direction transverse to the first direction of movement of said first and second stages; and

cooling means disposed for cooling down said reagent storage means,

wherein said displacing means comprise;

a first movable member;

driving means for moving said first movable member in the second direction;

a second movable member mounted on said first movable member to be slidable relative to said first movable member in the second direction, said second movable member carrying at least said end of said pipetting means;

detecting means associated with said second movable member for producing an output signal when said second movable member has a given position relative to said first movable member; and

control means coupled to said detecting means for halting movement of said first movable member in response to the appearance of the output signal.

2. A liquid reactor as defined in claim 1 further comprising a third stage disposed above said second stage and having a tip stand carrying a plurality of tips for attachment to said end, the means connected for moving said third stage.

6. A liquid reactor as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means defining a reagent dispensing station containing said pipetting means and in which said first and second stages are located when in their working position;

means defining a temperature treating station spaced horizontally from said reagent dispensing station and in which said first and second stages are located when in their storage position; and

thermal treating means disposed in said temperature treating station for treating a material in said sample cell when said first stage is in the storage position.

3. An infinitesimal liquid reactor comprising:

first and second stages slidably mounted one above the other for movement in a first direction between a storage position and a working position;

means connected to said first and second stages for moving each of said first and second stages individually between said storage and working positions;

a sample cell carried by said first stage;

means carried by said second stage for storing a plurality of reagents;

pipetting means for drawing in and discharging a dose of fluid, said pipetting means including an end carrying a replaceable tip defining a space for storing a dose of fluid;

displacing means associated with said pipetting means for moving at least said end in a second direction transverse to the first direction of movement of said first and second stages;

a third stage disposed above said first stage and having a tip stand carrying a plurality of tips for attachment to said end; and

means connected to said third stage for moving said third stage,

wherein said displacing means comprise;

a first movable member;

driving means for moving said first movable member in the second direction;

a second movable member mounted on said first movable member to be slidably relative to said first movable member in the second direction, said second movable member carrying at least said end of said pipetting means;

propelling means connected for moving said second movable member relative to said first movable member;

detecting means connected to detecting the application of a predetermined pressure to said second movable member; and

control means responsive to said detecting means for halting movement of said first movable member in response to detection of the predetermined pressure by said detecting means.

4. An infinitesimal liquid reactor comprising:

first and second stages slidably mounted one above the other for movement in a first direction between a storage position and a working position;

means connected to said first and second stages for moving each of said first and second stages individually between said storage and working positions;

a sample cell carried by said first stage;

means carried by said second stage for storing a plurality of reagents;

pipetting means for drawing in and discharging a dose of fluid, said pipetting means including an end carrying a replaceable tip defining a space for storing a dose of fluid;

displacing means associated with said pipetting means for moving at least said end in a second direction transverse to the first direction of movement of said first and second stages; and

heating means for heating and retaining said sample cell on said first stage,

wherein said heating means comprises;

an upper heating plate for heating an upper surface of said sample cell;

a lower heating plate for heating a lower surface of said sample cell;

first contacting means for bringing said upper heating plate into contact with the upper surface of said sample cell; and

second contacting means for brining said lower heating plate into contact with the lower surface of said sample cell.

5. A liquid reactor as defined in claim 4 further comprising a controller connected for controlling said first contacting means and second contacting means in order to first sandwich said sample cell for heating between said upper heating plate and said lower heating plate, and to then detach said lower heating plate from the lower surface of said sample cell for cooling, while said upper heating plate continues to be pushed against the upper surface of sample cell.