Reaction vessel agitation apparatus

• US 6,165,778 A
• Filed: 07/02/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation (GSK plc)
• Original Assignee: Affymax Incorporated
• Inventors: Kedar, Haim
• Primary Examiner(s): Beisner, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/109,613
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 435/286.7, 435/287.2, 435/288.6, 435/809, 422/104, 422/101, 422/102, 366/110, 366/111, 366/210, 366/211
• US Class Current: 506/33
• 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 2219/00286 Reactor vessels with top and bottom openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00308 interchangeably mounted in racks or blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00313 the reactor vessels being formed by arrays of wells in blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00389 Feeding through valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00412 In multiple arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00418 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00423 using filtration, e.g. through porous frits
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00466 in a slurry
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00484 by shaking, vibrating or oscillating of the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00545 Colours
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00547 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00554 Physical means
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00572 Chemical means
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00574 radioactive
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00592 Split-and-pool, mix-and-divide processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00689 : using computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00695 : Synthesis control routines, e.g. using computer programs
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00698 : Measurement and control of process parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0072 : Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 : Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 : Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00731 : Saccharides
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/047 : Simultaneous synthesis of different peptide species; Peptide libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 : Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 : Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/12 : Libraries containing saccharides or polysaccharides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries

Abstract

A device and method for efficiently synthesizing diverse molecular products on substrates. A parent vessel 200 contains a suspension of substrates. The suspension is pressurized with argon and transferred to a plurality of reaction vessels 201-209 in one or more reaction vessel banks where monomer addition reactions take place. Optionally, the substrates may be tagged with a tag monomer. A vortexing motor 300 vortexes the contents of reaction vessels 201-209 during monomer addition reactions to enhance synthesis. After the desired monomer and/or tag monomer addition reaction, the suspension is pressurized with argon and transferred back to parent vessel 200 for mixing. Thereafter, the suspension may be pressurized with argon and reallocated among reaction vessels 201-209 for further synthesis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for agitating reaction vessels, comprising:

a reaction vessel bracket having a plurality of reaction vessels attached thereto;

a non-concentric shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably connected to the reaction vessel bracket;

a mounting bracket rotatably engaging the second end of the shaft, with the reaction vessels being positioned between the reaction vessel bracket and the mounting bracket;

a vortexing motor attached to the mounting bracket; and

a transmission means for transmitting rotational force supplied by the motor to the second end of the shaft;

wherein the rotational force causes the reaction vessel bracket to rotate in a circular path relative to the mounting bracket and thereby agitate contents of the reaction vessels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a second non-concentric shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of said shafts is mounted at a first end of the reaction vessel bracket, and the other of said shafts is mounted at a second end of the reaction vessel bracket.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said shafts are mounted inside of shaft housings.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmission means includes one or more elements selected from the group consisting of belts, chains and sprockets, pulleys, and gears.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said transmission means includes a belt and pulleys.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vortexing motor is controlled by a control computer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reaction vessel bracket is a lower bracket said mounting bracket is an upper bracket, said reaction vessels have lower and upper ends, and said reaction vessels are attached to the lower bracket by their bottom ends.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said non-concentric shaft is connected to said mounting bracket via a fixed rotary support.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said fixed rotary support is a roller bearing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said non-concentric shaft is designed so that the circular path has a radius of approximately 3.5 mm.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vortexing motor is capable of rotating said reaction vessel bracket at approximately 1500 revolutions per minute.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vortexing motor is selected from the group consisting of an electric motor and a pneumatic motor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vortexing motor is a stepper motor.

15. An apparatus for agitating reaction vessels, comprising:

a reaction vessel bracket having a plurality of reaction vessels attached thereto;

a non-concentric shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably connected to the reaction vessel bracket;

a mounting, bracket rotatably engaging the second end of the shaft;

a vortexing motor attached to the mounting bracket; and

a transmission means for transmitting rotational force supplied by the motor to the second end of the shaft;

wherein the rotational force causes the reaction vessel bracket to rotate in a circular path relative to the mounting bracket and thereby agitate contents of the reaction vessels;

wherein said reaction vessel bracket is a lower bracket said mounting bracket is an upper bracket, said reaction vessels have lower and upper ends, and said reaction vessels are attached to the lower bracket by their bottom ends.

16. An apparatus for agitating reaction vessels, comprising:

a reaction vessel bracket having, a plurality of reaction vessels attached thereto, wherein each reaction vessel includes a bottom portion that is constructed of a length of flexible tubing, and wherein the bottom portion is attached to the reaction vessel bracket;

a non-concentric shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being rotatably connected to the reaction vessel bracket;

a mounting, bracket rotatably holding the second end portion of the shaft;

a vortexing, motor; and

a transmission assembly to transmit a rotational force supplied by the motor to the second end portion of the shaft to cause the shaft to rotate;

wherein rotation of the shaft causes the reaction vessel bracket to rotate in a circular path relative to the mounting, bracket and thereby agitate the contents of the reaction vessels.