Multi-format sample processing devices

• US 6,720,187 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bedingham, William, Robole, Barry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US09/837,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20020001848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/100, 422/64, 422/72, 436/45, 436/50, 436/180, 436/177, 435/91.2, 435/305.1, 435/288.4, 435/809, 435/303.1, 219/388, 219/428, 219/438
• US Class Current: 436/45
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/021 Adjust spacings in an array of wells, pipettes or holders, format transfer between arrays of different size or geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1861 using radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1872 Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• 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: F27B 9/16 the charge moving in a circular or arcuate path
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 5/00 Supports, screens, or the like for the charge within the furnace travelling or movable supports F27D3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 : whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/111666 : Utilizing a centrifuge or compartmented rotor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 : Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems for processing sample materials are disclosed. The present invention may provide a bridge between standard microtiter plate systems, methods, protocols, etc. (that include wells arranged in rectangular arrays) and rotating sample processing devices and systems that allow users to obtain the rapid processing advantages of the more advanced sample processing devices. The sample processing devices preferably include a rectangular body to improve compatibility of the sample processing devices of the present invention with equipment designed for use with more conventional microtiter plates (which are typically rectangular in shape). The sample processing devices also include at least one set of process chambers arranged in one or more circular arcs and may include input and/or output chambers arranged in a rectilinear grid array.

Claims

1. A sample processing device comprising:

a rectangular body comprising a pair of opposing major surfaces and a center, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are located on opposite sides of the center;

a plurality of first process arrays located within the first portion of the body, each of the first process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber, the primary process chamber interconnected to, and located between, the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body; and

a plurality of second process arrays located within the second portion of the body, each of the second process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber located between the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the circular arcs formed by the primary process chambers of the first process arrays and the second process arrays define a primary process chamber circle with a center located at the center of the body.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the input chambers of the plurality of first process arrays and the input chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the input chambers of the plurality of first process arrays are arranged along a first straight line and the input chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged along a second straight line, and further wherein the first straight line is parallel to the second straight line.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the output chambers of the plurality of first process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array, and further wherein the output chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the input chambers of at least two of the first process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the input chambers of all of the plurality of first process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

8. A device according to claim 1, the device further comprising:

a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the first process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the first process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body; and

a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the second process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the second process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the circular arcs formed by the secondary process chambers of the first process arrays and the second process arrays define a secondary process chamber circle with a center located at the center of the body.

10. A sample processing device comprising:

a rectangular body comprising a center, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are located on opposite sides of the center;

a plurality of first process arrays located within the first portion of the body, each of the first process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber, the primary process chamber interconnected to, and located between, the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body; and

a plurality of second process arrays located within the second portion of the body, each of the second process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber located between the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body;

wherein the input chambers of the plurality of first process arrays and the input chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in rectilinear grid array;

and wherein the output chambers of the first process arrays of the plurality of first process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array,

and further wherein the output chambers of the second process arrays of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the circular arcs formed by the primary process chambers of the first process arrays and the second process arrays define a primary process chamber circle with a center located at the center of the body.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the input chambers of at least two of the first process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

13. A device according to claim 10, wherein the input chambers of all of the plurality of tint process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

14. A device according to claim 10, the device further comprising:

a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the first process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the first process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body; and

a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the second process rays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the second process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the circular arcs formed by the secondary process chambers of the first process arrays and the second process arrays define a secondary process chamber circle with a center located at the center of the body.

16. A sample processing device comprising:

a body comprising a center, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are located on opposite sides of the center;

a plurality of first process arrays located within the first portion of the body, each of the first process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber, the primary process chamber interconnected to, and located between the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body, and further wherein the output chambers of the plurality of first process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array; and

a plurality of second process arrays located within the second portion of the body, each of the second process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber located between the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of die plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body, and further wherein the output chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the circular arcs formed by the primary process chambers of the first process arrays and the second process arrays define a primary process chamber circle with a center located at the center of the body.

18. A device according to claim 16, wherein the input chambers of the plurality of first process arrays and the input chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the input chambers of the plurality of first process arrays are arranged along a first straight line and the input chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged along a second straight line, and further wherein the first straight line is parallel to the second straight line.

20. A device according to claim 16, wherein the input chambers of at least two of the first process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

21. A device according to claim 16, wherein the input chambers of all of the plurality of first process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

22. A device according to claim 16, the device further comprising:

a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the first process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the first process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body; and

a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the second process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the second process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the circular arcs formed by the secondary process chambers of the first process arrays and the second process arrays define a secondary process chamber circle with a center located at the center of the body.

24. A sample processing device comprising:

a body comprising a center, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are located on opposite sides of the center;

a plurality of first process arrays located within the first portion of the body, each of the first process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber, the primary process chamber interconnected to, and located between, the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of process arrays are ranged in a circular arc about the center of the body, and further wherein the input chambers of the plurality of first process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array; and

a plurality of second process arrays located within the second portion of the body, each of the second process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber located between the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body, and further wherein the input chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array.

25. A device according to claim 24, wherein the circular arcs formed by the primary process chambers of the first process arrays and the second process arrays define a primary process chamber circle with a center located at the center of the body.

26. A device according to claim 24, wherein the input chambers of the plurality of first process arrays are arranged along a first straight line and the input chambers of the plurality of second process arrays are arranged along a second straight line, and further wherein the first straight line is parallel to the second straight line.

27. A device according to claim 24, wherein the input chambers of at least two of the first process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

28. A device according to claim 24, the device further comprising:

a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the first process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the first process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body; and

a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the second process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the second process arrays are arranged in a circular arc about the center of the body.

29. A device according to claim 28, wherein the circular arcs formed by the secondary process chambers of the first process arrays and the second process arrays define a secondary process chamber circle with a center located at the center of the body.