Fluid delivery system utilizing multiple port valve

• US 5,405,585 A
• Filed: 04/12/1994
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Coassin, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Housel, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pyon, Harold Y.
• Application Number:
  US08/277,299
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 137/625.19, 422/80, 422/81, 422/99, 422/100, 422/102, 422/112, 422/116, 435/6, 435/255, 435/289, 436/89
• US Class Current: 422/509
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00353 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00391 Rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: C07H 21/00 Compounds containing two or more mononucleotide units having separate phosphate or polyphosphate groups linked by saccharide radicals of nucleoside groups, e.g. nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/045 using devices to improve synthesis, e.g. reactors, special vessels
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/31 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1097 characterised by the valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86566 Rotary plug

Abstract

The present invention is directed to the implementation of a multi-port rotary valve in an automated chemistry processing instrument which reduces chemical reagent cross contamination and simplifies system design and control. One or more multi-port rotary valves are used in conjunction with isolation valves which are each dedicated for an associated reagent in the system. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the instrument utilizes a multi-port valve which defines several fluid branches each associated with a reagent. The valve has a common inlet and common outlet which are selectively brought into fluid communication with the branches in a controlled sequence. At each branch, there is a two-way three-port isolation valve which controls introduction of an associated reagent into the branch. When a branch is selected by the rotary valve, the reagent introduced into the branch is delivered out of the common outlet by the flow from the common inlet. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the reagents are introduced through isolation valves between two multi-port rotary valves.

Claims

1. An apparatus for fluid delivery system comprising:

means for supplying a fluid;

valve means for selecting flow between common ports, said valve means including a first common port coupled to the supply means, a second common port, a plurality of fluid branches each having two ends in constant flow communication, and means for alternatively selecting fluid flow through a selected fluid branch by connecting flow between the first and second common ports and the two ends of said selected fluid branch, whereby fluid flows through the valve means from the first common port to the second common port through said selected fluid branch; and

a plurality of isolation valves each coupled along each fluid branch to one of a plurality of different external fluids, each isolation valve operating to control flow of each external fluid into the respective fluid branches, whereby a desired external fluid is delivered through the second common port by connecting the flow between the first and second common ports and the two ends of the fluid branch which is coupled to said desired external fluid by using the valve means and introducing said desired external fluid into said selected fluid branch by controlling the isolation valve coupled to said selected fluid branch.

2. An apparatus for fluid delivery system as in claim 1 wherein the valve means is an integrated rotary valve having means for accessing the two ends of the selected fluid branch simultaneously.

3. An apparatus for fluid delivery system as in claim 1 wherein the valve means comprises first and second valves, the first valve having a common inlet and a plurality of outlets and means for alternatively selecting fluid flow from said common inlet through one of said outlets, the second valve having a plurality of inlets and a common outlet and means for alternatively selecting fluid flow from one of the inlets to the common outlet, whereby each fluid branch is defined between a pair of said plurality of inlets and outlets and the common inlet corresponds to the first common port of the valve means and the common outlet corresponds to the second common port of the valve means, and wherein the isolation valves are each coupled intermediate between a pair of said plurality of inlets and outlets for controlling flow of the external fluid into a selected fluid branch between the first and second valves.

4. An automated chemical reaction processing instrument comprising:

a main fluid supply;

valve means for selecting flow between common ports, said valve means including a first common port coupled to said main fluid supply, a second common port, a plurality of fluid branches each having two ends in constant flow communication, and means for alternatively selecting fluid flow through a selected fluid branch by connecting flow between the first and second common ports and the two ends of said selected fluid branch, whereby fluid flows through the valve means from the first common port to the second common port through a selected fluid branch;

supply means for supplying different reagents;

a plurality of isolation valves each coupled to the supply means and equidistant between the ends of each fluid branch, each isolation valve operating to control flow of each of said different reagents from the supply means into the respective fluid branches, whereby the different reagents are introduced into the respective fluid branches and delivered through the second common port in sequence by connecting flow between the first and second common ports and the two ends of the fluid branches using said valve means and introducing the reagents into the selected fluid branches by controlling the isolation valves; and

means for defining a reaction site coupled to the second common port where the different reagents are delivered in a predetermined sequence for carrying out a desired reaction.

5. An automated instrument as in claim 4 wherein the valve means is an integrated rotary valve having means for accessing the two ends of the selected fluid branch simultaneously.

6. An automated instrument as in claim 4 wherein the valve means comprises first and second valves, the first valve having a common inlet and a plurality of outlets and means for alternatively selecting fluid flow from said common inlet through one of said outlets, the second valve having a plurality of inlets and a common outlet and means for alternatively selecting fluid flow from one of the inlets to the common outlet, whereby each fluid branch is defined between a pair of said plurality of inlets and outlets and the common inlet corresponds to the first common port of the valve means and the common outlet corresponds to the second common port of the valve means, and wherein the isolation valves are each coupled intermediate between a pair of said plurality of inlets and outlets for controlling flow of the external fluid into a selected fluid branch between the first and second valves.

7. An automated instrument as in claim 4 wherein flow distances between the isolation valves and the second common port are substantially the same.

8. An automated instrument as in claim 4 wherein the lengths of the fluid branches are substantially the same.

9. At automated instrument as in claim 4 wherein the reagents are suitable for nucleic acid synthesis.

10. An apparatus for fluid delivery system comprising:

supply means for supplying a first fluid,

valve means for selecting flow between common ports, said valve means having an input common port coupled to the supply means, an output common port, and a plurality of branch output ports and a plurality of branch input ports, each said output port being uniquely associated with an input port and in constant flow communication therewith, said valve means including means for selectively connecting said input common port to any one of said branch input ports and said output common port to any one of said branch output ports;

conduit means connecting each of said branch input ports to a respective branch output ports to form a plurality of branches between said input common port and said output common port to allow flow of said first fluid through any one of said branches; and

an isolation valve along each of said plurality of branches coupled equidistant between said input ports and output ports, and connected to a respective second fluid, said isolation valve operating to introduce said respective second fluid to the respective branches, whereby any desired one of a plurality of second fluids can be introduced into one of said plurality of fluid branches and delivered through the output common port.