Method for performing crystallization trials

• US 7,416,709 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takeda San Diego, Inc. (Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Takeda San Diego, Inc. (Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
• Inventors: Martin, Laurent, Palan, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): HITESHEW, FELISA CARLA
• Application Number:
  US11/016,495
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 427/402, 422/81, 422/100, 422/101, 422/252, 422/245.1, 117/13
• US Class Current: 422/245.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 9/0063 Control or regulation control per se G05
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 9/0077 Screening for crystallisation conditions or for crystal forms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 117/10 Apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 117/1004 with means for measuring, testing, or sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 117/1008 with responsive control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 117/1016 with means for treating single-crystal [e.g., heat treating]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 117/1024 for crystallization from liquid or supercritical state

Abstract

A method is provided that comprises having a trial generation station generate crystallization trials in a crystallization plate transporting the crystallization plate to an imaging station; and having the imaging station take images of the crystallization trials within 30 minutes of the formation of the crystallization trials; wherein the method is performed in a single automated system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

having a trial generation station generate crystallization trials in a crystallization plate;

transporting the crystallization plate to an imaging station; and

having the imaging station take images of the crystallization trials within 30 minutes of the formation of the crystallization trials;

wherein the method is performed in a single automated system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the images of the crystallization trials are taken within 15 minutes of the formation of the crystallization trials.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the images of the crystallization trials are taken within 5 minutes of the formation of the crystallization trials.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the images of the crystallization trials are taken within 1 minute of the formation of the crystallization trials.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising storing the crystallization plate in a crystallization plate storage station after having the imaging station take images of the crystallization trials.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising having a transport mechanism transport the crystallization plate from the imaging station to the crystallization plate storage station.

7. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising having the imaging station take a second set of images of the crystallization trials after the plate has been stored for a period of time in the crystallization plate storage system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a transport mechanism is employed to transport the crystallization plate to the imaging station.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transport mechanism is employed to transport the crystallization plate from the trial generation station to the imaging station.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the transport mechanism includes a robotic arm.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the crystallization trials include a mother liquor and a sample, the sample having a volume less than 1 μ

L.