Apparatus and methods for processing biological samples and a reservoir therefor

• US 7,901,634 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dako Denmark A/S (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matthiesen, Steen Hauge, Rasmussen, Ole Feldballe, Winther, Lars, Poulsen, Tim Svenstrup, Testa, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett; Lore
• Application Number:
  US11/031,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20050281711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 422/99, 422/102, 422/104, 422/100, 435/6, 435/91.1, 435/287.2, 435/288.3, 435/303.1, 435/809, 219/635, 356/396
• US Class Current: 422/547
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/043 Hinged closures
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/069 Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0822 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/10 Means to control humidity and/or other gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1844 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• 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: C12M 41/14 Incubators; Climatic chambers per se B01L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/36 of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6841 In situ hybridisation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/143333 Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]

Abstract

An apparatus for processing at least one biological sample accommodated on at least one carrier member (15) in a chamber includes at least one reservoir (18) able to accommodate a fluid arranged on a surface inside the chamber adjacent to and/or facing a substantial part of the at least one biological sample. The apparatus may comprise a bottom member (12) arranged to support at least one carrier member (15) carrying at least one biological sample and a lid (14) including at least one fluid reservoir (18). The reservoir filled with water provides humidity to the chamber and impedes drying out of the sample.

Claims

1. An apparatus adapted for nucleic acid denaturization and hybridization of at least one biological sample on at least one carrier member in a chamber, said apparatus comprising:

a bottom member of said chamber supporting said at least one carrier member;

a hydrophilic porous solid reservoir configured to sorb and desorb water and water vapor, said reservoir disposed inside said chamber;

a lid for the chamber configured to position the reservoir directly above the at least one biological sample such that the reservoir does not touch said at least one biological sample, when said lid is positioned to form a closed chamber;

a sample temperature controlling device within said chamber below said at least one carrier member controlling the temperature of said carrier member and said at least one biological sample, wherein said reservoir either sorbs or desorbs water and water vapor so as to control relative humidity within said closed chamber at above 85% relative humidity, when said lid is positioned to form the closed chamber; and

a reservoir temperature controlling device for controlling the temperature of said reservoir, the sample temperature controlling device and reservoir temperature controlling device being separately controlled.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lid may be opened to access said at least one biological sample and said reservoir.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature sensor connected to said sample temperature controlling device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sample temperature controlling device comprises heating wires.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sample temperature controlling device comprises an inductive heater.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sample temperature controlling device comprises a cooling device for cooling the at least one biological sample.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heating device for heating said reservoir.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein relative humidity in said closed chamber is controlled by desorption of water and water vapor from said reservoir during heating of said at least one biological sample or absorption of water and water vapor from said closed chamber during cooling of said at least one biological sample.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one carrier member comprises a plurality of slides, each of said slides having a respective temperature-controlled plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one carrier member comprises a plurality of slides, each of said slides lying upon a respective temperature-controlled plate.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said water further comprises an inorganic salt.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said water further comprises a detergent.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said water further comprises an organic solvent.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is made of a material from the group consisting of polymeric fiber composites, polymeric fiber blends, glass fiber materials, expanded porous polymers, porous ceramics, wood pulp, cardboard, leather and cellulose-based materials.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is made of a material comprising a composition chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethanes, polysulfones, polyvinyl, polyacrylics, ethylene Vinyl Acetate, viscose rayon, polystyrene, macroreticular polystyrene, aliphatic polymers, phenol-formaldehyde condensate polymers, epoxy, cotton, polysaccharide, modified polysaccharides, wood pulp, calcium carbonate, silica gels, glass fiber, bentonite, perlite and zeolite.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is made of a material chosen from the group consisting of polymeric bonded fibers, non-bonded fibers, woven fibers, knitted fibers, micro fibers, textiles, tufted textiles, bonded polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polvolefin fibers and cellulose acetate fibers.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is impregnated with an anti microbial agent or other protective agent.

18. An apparatus adapted for nucleic acid denaturization and hybridization of at least one biological sample on at least one carrier member in a chamber, said apparatus comprising:

a bottom member of said chamber supporting said at least one carrier member;

a hydrophilic porous solid reservoir configured to sorb and desorb water and water vapor, said reservoir disposed inside said chamber, wherein said lid may be opened to access said at least one biological sample and said reservoir;

a lid for the chamber configured to position the reservoir directly above the at least one biological sample such that the reservoir does not touch said at least one biological sample, when said lid is positioned to form a closed chamber;

a sample temperature controlling device within said chamber below said at least one carrier member controlling the temperature of said carrier member and said at least one biological sample, wherein said reservoir either sorbs or desorbs water and water vapor so as to control relative humidity within said closed chamber at above 85% relative humidity, when said lid is positioned to form the closed chamber; and

a second reservoir on top of said lid and outside said chamber that communicates fluid to said reservoir inside the chamber.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising at least one temperature sensor connected to said sample temperature controlling device.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said sample temperature controlling device comprises heating wires.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said sample temperature controlling device comprises an inductive heater.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said sample temperature controlling device comprises a cooling device for cooling the at least one biological sample.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a heating device for heating said reservoir.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein relative humidity in said closed chamber is controlled by desorption of water and water vapor from said reservoir during heating of said at least one biological sample or absorption of water and water vapor from said closed chamber during cooling of said at least one biological sample.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said water further comprises an inorganic salt.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said water further comprises a detergent.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said water further comprises an organic solvent.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said reservoir is made of a material from the group consisting of polymeric fiber composites, polymeric fiber blends, glass fiber materials, expanded porous polymers, porous ceramics, wood pulp, cardboard, leather and cellulose-based materials.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said reservoir is made of a material comprising a composition chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethanes, polysulfones, polyvinyl, polyacrylics, ethylene Vinyl Acetate, viscose rayon, polystyrene, macroreticular polystyrene, aliphatic polymers, phenol-formaldehyde condensate polymers, epoxy, cotton, polysaccharide, modified polysaccharides, wood pulp, calcium carbonate, silica gels, glass fiber, bentonite, perlite and zeolite.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said reservoir is made of a material chosen from the group consisting of polymeric bonded fibers, non-bonded fibers, woven fibers, knitted fibers, micro fibers, textiles, tufted textiles, bonded polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers and cellulose acetate fibers.

31. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said reservoir is impregnated with an anti microbial agent or other protective agent.

32. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein material of which said reservoir is comprised has a density from 0.050 to 1.5 gram/cm³.