System for performing crystallization trials

• US 7,510,690 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• 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 C
• Application Number:
  US11/015,386
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 427/402, 422/252, 422/81, 422/100, 422/101, 117/13, 436/47, 436/52
• US Class Current: 422/252
• 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 crystallization system is provided comprising a trial generation station configured to generate crystallization trials in trial zones of a crystallization plate; an imaging station configured to take images of crystallization trials in the crystallization plate; a transport mechanism configured to transport the crystallization plate to the imaging station after generation of the crystallization trials; and a controller including logic for causing the trial generation station to generate the crystallization trials in the crystallization plate, logic for causing the transport mechanism to transport the crystallization plate to the imaging station and logic for causing the imaging station to take images of the crystallization trials.

Claims

1. A crystallization system, comprising:

a trial generation station configured to generate crystallization trials in trial zones of a crystallization plate;

an imaging station configured to take images of the crystallization trials in the crystallization plate;

a transport mechanism configured to transport the crystallization plate to the imaging station after generation of the crystallization trials; and

a controller including logic for causing the trial generation station to generate the crystallization trials in the crystallization plate, logic for causing the transport mechanism to transport the crystallization plate to the imaging station and logic for causing the imaging station to take images of the crystallization trials.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to cause the imaging station to take images of the crystallization trials within 30 minutes of the formation of the crystallization trials.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to cause the imaging station to take images of the crystallization trials within 15 minutes of the formation of the crystallization trials.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to cause the imaging station to take images of the crystallization trials within 5 minutes of the formation of the crystallization trials.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to cause the imaging station to take images of the crystallization trials within 1 minute of the formation of the crystallization trials.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes logic for causing the transport mechanism to transport the crystallization plate from the trial generation station to a sealing station configured to seal the crystallization trials from the atmosphere and logic for causing the transport mechanism to transport the crystallization plate from the sealing station to the imaging station.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a crystallization plate storage station for storing a plurality of crystallization plates, the transport mechanism also being configured to transport crystallization plates from the imaging station to the crystallization plate storage station.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes logic for causing the transport mechanism to transport the crystallization plate from the imaging station to the crystallization plate storage station.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport mechanism includes a robotic arm.

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

L.