High density plate filler

• US 7,407,630 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applera Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reed, Mark T., Harding, Ian A., Carrillo, Albert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEVKOVICH, NATALIA A
• Application Number:
  US11/086,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20050232820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102, 422/100, 422/103, 422/104
• US Class Current: 422/552
• 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 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1805 Conductive heating, heat from thermostatted solids is conducted to receptacles, e.g. heating plates, blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/563 Joints or fittings in general F16L; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors
• 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: B01L 9/523 : for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/56 : Means for indicating position of a recipient or sample in an array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 : Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 : Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 : having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates

Abstract

A filling apparatus for filling a microplate. The microplate having a plurality of wells each sized to receive an assay. The filling apparatus can comprise an assay input layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface. The assay input layer can comprise an assay input port extending from the first surface to the second surface, a venting manifold formed in the second surface, and a vent hole in fluid communication with the venting manifold and atmosphere. An output layer can comprise a plurality of staging capillaries each having an inlet and an outlet. A venting layer can be disposed between the assay input layer and the output layer. The venting layer can comprise a plurality of microfluidic channels, a flow aperture being in fluid communication with the assay input port and the plurality of microfluidic channels, and a plurality of vent apertures each in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of staging capillaries. Two or more of the plurality of vent apertures can be in fluid communication with the venting manifold.

Claims

1. A filling apparatus for filling a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein, said filling apparatus comprising:

a first layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said first layer further having an assay input port for receiving the assay extending from said first surface to said second surface, a venting manifold formed in said second surface, and a vent hole in fluid communication with said venting manifold and atmosphere, said venting manifold and said vent hole being distinct from said assay input port;

a second layer having a plurality of staging capillaries, each of said plurality of staging capillaries having an inlet and an outlet and being sized to receive the assay, said second layer having a plurality of microfluidic channels formed therein, at least one of said plurality of microfluidic channels being in fluid communication with said inlets of at least a pair of said plurality of staging capillaries; and

a third layer disposed between said first layer and said second layer, said third layer further having a flow aperture being in fluid communication with said assay input port and said plurality of microfluidic channels, said third layer further having a plurality of vent apertures each in fluid communication with at least one of said plurality of staging capillaries, two or more of said plurality of vent apertures being in fluid communication with said venting manifold and distinct from said plurality of staging capillaries and said plurality of microfluidic channels.

2. The filling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a surface tension relief post extending from said second layer, said surface tension relief post being generally aligned with said flow aperture of said third layer, said surface tension relief post engagable with the assay in at least one of said assay input port and said flow aperture.

3. The filling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a protrusion formed about said outlet of at least one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

4. The filling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a spacer extending about a least a portion of said second layer, said spacer engagable with the microplate to provide a predetermined spacing therewith.

5. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of vent apertures is coaxially aligned with one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

6. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of vent apertures is generally aligned between two of said plurality of staging capillaries.

7. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of vent apertures is circular in cross-section.

8. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of vent apertures is oblong in cross-section.

9. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said plurality of microfluidic channels and said assay input port to provide sufficient capillary force to draw a predetermined volume of the assay therein.

10. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said plurality of microfluidic channels and said assay input port to provide sufficient capillary force to draw a predetermined volume of the assay therein and permit release of the assay from each of said plurality of staging capillaries in response to an applied centripetal force.

11. The filling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said third layer is made of a double-stick adhesive.

12. A filling apparatus for filling a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein, said filling apparatus comprising:

an assay input layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said assay input layer further having an assay input port extending from said first surface to said second surface, a venting manifold formed in said second surface, and a vent hole in fluid communication with said venting manifold and atmosphere, said venting manifold and said vent hole being distinct from said assay input port;

an output layer having a plurality of staging capillaries, each of said plurality of staging capillaries having an inlet and an outlet; and

a venting layer disposed between said assay input layer and said output layer, said venting layer having a plurality of microfluidic channels formed therein, at least one of said plurality of microfluidic channels being in fluid communication with said inlets of at least a pair of said plurality of staging capillaries, said venting layer further having a flow aperture being in fluid communication with said assay input port and said plurality of microfluidic channels, said venting layer further having a plurality of vent apertures each in fluid communication with at least one of said plurality of staging capillaries, said plurality of vent apertures being distinct from said flow aperture.

13. The filling apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a surface tension relief post extending from said output layer, said surface tension relief post being generally aligned with said flow aperture of said venting layer, said surface tension relief post engagable with the assay in at least one of said assay input port and said flow aperture.

14. The filling apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a protrusion formed said outlet of at least one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

15. The filling apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a spacer extending a least a portion of said output layer, said spacer engagable with the microplate to provide a predetermined spacing therewith.

16. The filling apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of vent apertures is coaxially aligned with one of said plurality of staging capillaries.

17. The filling apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of vent apertures is generally aligned between two of said plurality of staging capillaries.

18. The filling apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of vent apertures is circular in cross-section.

19. The filling apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of vent apertures is oblong in cross-section.

20. The filling apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said plurality of microfluidic channels and said assay input port to provide sufficient capillary force to draw a predetermined volume of the assay therein.

21. The filling apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of staging capillaries is sized relative to said plurality of microfluidic channels and said assay input port to provide sufficient capillary force to draw a predetermined volume of the assay therein and permit release of the assay from each of said plurality of staging capillaries in response to an applied centripetal force.