Apparatus and methods for reformatting liquid samples

• US 7,025,935 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Illumina Incorporated
• Inventors: Jones, Aaron C., Ellman, Brett C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gordon, Brian R.
• Application Number:
  US10/412,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 422/100, 422/63, 422/65, 422/68.1, 422/58, 436/180
• US Class Current: 422/503
• 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 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/025 tapping tip on substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0241 Drop counters; Drop formers making arrays for combinatorial libraries B01J19/0046; automation of dispensing for analysis G01N35/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50857 using arrays or bundles of open capillaries for holding samples
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and method for transferring a plurality of samples from an array of source sample locations to an array of destination sample locations. An apparatus or method of the invention are useful for reformatting samples in cases where the array of source sample locations differs in shape or orientation from the array of destination sample locations. The invention can be used to transfer fluid samples in the absence of an externally applied force. Because active automation is not required for transferring samples, the invention provides the advantage of a compact and efficient format for liquid handling.

Claims

1. A sample transfer apparatus for transferring samples from source wells to destination sample locations, comprising

a plurality of separate capillary tubes each comprising an inlet and outlet orifice;

a support member orienting said inlet orifices as a matrix of inlet orifices and said plurality of outlet orifices as a matrix of outlet orifices; and

a multi-well plate comprising a plurality of source wells,

wherein said support member comprises a first contact surface for a supporting said multi-well plate,

wherein said inlet orifices are directed to said wells and said outlet orifices are directed to destination sample locations,

wherein said inlet orifices extend beyond said first contact surface into contact with the interiors of said wells,

wherein said support member comprises a second contact surface spaced from and parallel to said first contact surface for holding a substrate having said destination sample locations,

wherein said second contact surface is positioned to allow for a substrate placed thereon to be within 250 μ

m of said outlet orifices, and

wherein the area of said matrix of inlet orifices is larger than the transfer area of said matrix of outlet orifices.

2. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of separate capillary tubes comprises at least 96 capillary tubes.

3. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of separate capillary tubes comprises at least 384 capillary tubes.

4. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of separate capillary tubes comprises at least 1536 capillary tubes.

5. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said matrix of inlet orifices is planar.

6. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said matrix of outlet orifices is planar.

7. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said matrix of inlet orifices has an area of 110 cm².

8. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein adjacent inlet orifices are at most 9 mm apart.

9. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary tubes have a cross-sectional area of 1 mm².

10. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary tubes have at most two openings.

11. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outlet orifices have a cross-sectional area of 1 mm².

12. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary tube comprises a hydrophilic interior surface.

13. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary tube comprises a hydrophobic interior surface.

14. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said multi-well plate is removably connected to said first contact surface.

15. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein a substrate is removably connected to said second contact surface.

16. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 15, wherein said substrate further comprises an array of beads.

17. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support member further includes a plurality of wells in contact with said inlet orifices.

18. The sample transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said matrix of inlet orifices is arranged in a rectangular grid.

19. A sample transfer apparatus for transferring samples from source wells to destination sample locations, comprising

a plurality of separate capillary tubes each comprising an inlet and outlet orifice;

and

a support member orienting said inlet orifices as a planar matrix of inlet orifices and said plurality of outlet orifices as a planar matrix of outlet orifices,

wherein said planar matrix of inlet orifices is substantially parallel to said planar matrix of outlet orifices,

a multi-well plate comprising a plurality of source wells,

wherein said support member comprises a first contact surface for supporting said multi-well plate,

wherein said inlet orifices extend beyond said first contact surface into contact with the interiors of a plurality of said wells,

wherein said inlet orifices and said outlet orifices are pointed in opposite directions,

wherein said support member comprises a second contact surface spaced from and parallel to said first contact surface for holding a substrate having said destination sample locations,

wherein said second contact surface is positioned to allow for a substrate placed thereon to be within 250 μ

m of said outlet orifices, and wherein the area of said matrix of inlet orifices is larger than the transfer area of said matrix of outlet orifices.