Instrument for cassette for sample preparation

• US 7,754,148 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Progentech Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Phillip You Fai, Hu, David Hsiang, Yu, Steve Jia Chang, Ching, Jesus
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pregler; Sharon
• Application Number:
  US12/005,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/65, 422/68.1, 422/82.01, 422/99, 422/103
• US Class Current: 422/65
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• 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 3/523 with means for closing or opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/527 for a plurality of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1013 by using magnetic beads
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00366 Several different temperatures used
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00544 using fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00574 Means for distributing beads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00801 : Holders for sample carriers, e.g. trays, caroussel, racks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00811 : consumable or exchangeable components other than sample carriers, e.g. detectors, flow cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 : network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0091 : GUI [graphical user interfaces]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0412 : Block or rack elements with a single row of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0415 : moving in two dimensions in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0098 : involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 : having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 : having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 : using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/807 : Apparatus included in process claim, e.g. physical support structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 : Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 : with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 : Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation

Abstract

A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.

Claims

1. An instrument, comprising:

an instrument enclosure configured to receive a plurality of cassettes, each cassette from the plurality of cassettes defining a first chamber and a second chamber, each cassette from the plurality of cassettes including a valve configured to transfer a magnetic particle between the first chamber and the second chamber;

a magnetic particle transfer system disposed within the instrument enclosure, the magnetic particle transfer system including a plurality of valve key shafts and a first actuator assembly, the first actuator assembly configured to move each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts to actuate the valve of a corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes;

a wash buffer pumping system disposed within the instrument enclosure, the wash buffer pumping system including a plurality of engagement plungers and a second actuator assembly, the second actuator assembly configured to move the plurality of engagement plungers between a first position, in which each engagement plunger from the plurality of engagement plungers is engaged with a first pump adjacent a surface of a corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes and in communication with the first chamber from the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes, and a second position, in which each engagement plunger from the plurality of engagement plungers is engaged with a second pump adjacent the surface of the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes and in communication with the second chamber from the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes; and

an instrument interface controller configured to control actuation of the magnetic particle transfer system and the wash buffer pumping system.

2. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising a main computer coupled with a plurality of instrument interface controllers, the instrument interface controller being one of the plurality of instrument interface controllers.

3. The instrument of claim 2, further comprising a touch panel display coupled with the main computer.

4. The instrument of claim 2, further comprising a sub-system computer coupled between the main computer and the instrument interface controller.

5. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising an instrument real time microcontroller unit and a cooling system coupled with the instrument interface parallel controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of valve key shafts between a first shaft position and a second shaft position, each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts is disposed apart from the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes when the plurality of valve key shafts is in the first shaft position, each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts is engaged with the valve of the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes when the plurality of valve key shafts is in the second shaft position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of valve key shafts between a first shaft position and a second shaft position, each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts is engaged with the valve of the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes when the plurality of valve key shafts is in the second shaft position; and

the first actuator assembly is configured to rotate each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts when the plurality of valve key shafts is in the second shaft position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of valve key shafts has a magnetic portion and a gear, the magnetic portion configured to be matingly disposed within the valve of the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes to actuate the valve of the corresponding cassette,

the gear of each valve key shaft operably coupled to the first actuator assembly such that the first actuator assembly can rotate each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

an instrument enclosure configured to contain a plurality of cassettes, each cassette from the plurality of cassettes including a valve configured to transfer a particle between a first chamber of the cassette and a second chamber of the cassette while maintaining fluid isolation between the first chamber and the second chamber, each cassette from the plurality of cassettes including a first pump configured to mix a first buffer solution with the particle when the particle is in the first chamber and a second pump configured to mix a second buffer solution with the particle when the particle is in the second chamber, the first pump and the second pump adjacent a surface of the cassette;

a particle transfer system disposed within the instrument enclosure, the particle transfer system including a plurality of valve key shafts and a first actuator assembly, the first actuator assembly configured to move the plurality of valve key shafts between a first position and a second position, in the first position each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts is disposed apart from a corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes, in the second position each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts is engaged with the valve of the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes; and

a pumping system disposed within the instrument enclosure, the pumping system including a plurality of engagement plungers and a second actuator assembly, the second actuator assembly configured to move the plurality of engagement plungers between a first engagement plunger position, in which each engagement plunger from the plurality of engagement plungers is engaged with the first pump from the corresponding cassette and a second engagement plunger position in which each engagement plunger from the plurality of engagement plungers is engaged with the second pump from the corresponding cassette.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

an instrument controller configured to receive an input associated with a sample contained within the plurality of cassettes and transmit a signal to the first actuator assembly to move the plurality of valve key shafts at a predetermined time based on the input.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to move each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts substantially simultaneously from the first position to the second position.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to rotate each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts when the plurality of valve key shafts is in the second position.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of valve key shafts has a magnetic portion and a gear, the magnetic portion configured to be matingly disposed within the valve of the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes when the plurality of valve key shafts is in the second position,

the gear of each valve key shaft is operably coupled to the first actuator assembly such that the first actuator assembly can rotate each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts when the plurality of valve key shafts is in the second position.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the valve of each cassette is a first valve;

each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a second valve configured to transfer the particle between the second chamber of the cassette and a third chamber of the cassette while maintaining fluid isolation between the second chamber and the third chamber; and

the actuator first assembly is configured to move the plurality of valve key shafts between the first position and a third position, in which each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts is engaged with the second valve of the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a heating system movably disposed within the instrument enclosure , the heating system including a plurality of heating members and a third actuator assembly, the third actuator assembly configured to move the plurality of heating members between a first heating member position, in which each heating member from the plurality of heating members is disposed apart from a corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes, and a second heating member position, in which each heating member from the plurality of heating members is engaged with the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

an instrument enclosure configured to contain a plurality of cassettes, each cassette from the plurality of cassettes defining a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber, each cassette from the plurality of cassettes including a first valve configured to transfer a particle between the first chamber and the second chamber while maintaining fluid isolation between the first chamber and the second chamber, and a second valve configured to transfer the particle between the second chamber and the third chamber while maintaining fluid isolation between the second chamber and the third chamber, each cassette from the plurality of cassettes including a first pump configured to mix a first buffer solution with the particle when the particle is in the first chamber and a second pump configured to mix a second buffer with the particle when the particle is in the second chamber;

a particle transfer system disposed within the instrument enclosure, the particle transfer system including a plurality of valve key shafts and a first actuator assembly, the actuator assembly configured to move the plurality of valve key shafts between a first position, in which each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts is engaged with the first valve of a corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes, and a second position, in which each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts is engaged with the second valve of a corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes; and

a pumping system disposed within the instrument enclosure, the pumping system including a plurality of engagement plunger and a second actuator assembly the second d actuator assembly configured to move the plurality of engagement plungers between a first engagement plunger position, in which each engagement plunger from the plurality of engagement plungers is engaged with the first pump from the corresponding cassette and a second engagement plunger position in which each engagement plunger from the plurality of engagement plungers is engaged with the second pump from the corresponding cassette.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to rotate each valve key shaft from the plurality of valve key shafts to actuate at least one of each first valve or each second valve.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

an instrument controller configured to receive an input associated with a sample contained within the plurality of cassettes and transmit a signal to the first actuator assembly to move the plurality of valve key shafts at a predetermined time based on the input.