Instrument for cassette for sample preparation

• US 7,910,062 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2010
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Genturadx, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Phillip You Fai, Hu, David Hsiang, Yu, Steve Jia Chang, Ching, Jesus
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines; Brian J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pregler; Sharon
• Application Number:
  US12/821,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/64, 422/65, 422/68.1
• 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 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 defining a first reagent chamber and a second reagent 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 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 reagent release system disposed within the instrument enclosure, the reagent release system including a plurality of protrusions and a second actuator assembly, the second actuator assembly configured to move the plurality of protrusions between a first protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the first reagent chamber from the corresponding cassette and a second protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the second reagent chamber from the corresponding cassette,

the second actuator assembly configured to move a protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into contact with a plunger associated with the first reagent chamber of the corresponding cassette to transfer a first reagent from the first reagent chamber into the first chamber,

the second actuator assembly configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into contact with a plunger associated with the second reagent chamber of the corresponding cassette to transfer a second reagent from the second reagent chamber into the first chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions along a first axis between the first protrusion position and the second protrusion position, the second actuator assembly is further configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions along a second axis into contact with the plunger associated with the first reagent chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions in a first direction between the first protrusion position and the second protrusion position, the second actuator assembly is further configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions in a second direction substantially normal to the first direction into contact with the plunger associated with the first reagent chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a puncturable member disposed between the first chamber and the first reagent chamber; and

the second actuator assembly is configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions such that the plunger associated with the first reagent chamber punctures a portion of the puncturable member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a pump configured to mix at least one of the first reagent or the second reagent with the particle within the first chamber; and

the second actuator assembly is configured to actuate each pump from the plurality of cassettes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a pump configured to mix at least one of the first reagent or the second reagent with the particle within the first chamber; and

the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions to a third protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the pump from the corresponding cassette, the second actuator assembly configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into contact with the pump of the corresponding cassette to actuate the pump.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions substantially simultaneously from the first protrusion position to the second protrusion position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, 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.

9. 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 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.

10. 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 puncturable member and defining a first reagent chamber and a second reagent chamber, the puncturable member disposed between the first chamber and each of the first reagent chamber and the second reagent chamber such that the first chamber is fluidically isolated from each of the first reagent chamber and the second reagent 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 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 reagent release system disposed within the instrument enclosure, the reagent release system configured to puncture the puncturable member to place at least one of the first reagent chamber or the second reagent chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, the reagent release system including a plurality of protrusions and a second actuator assembly, the second actuator assembly configured to move the plurality of protrusions between a first protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with a first portion of the puncturable member from the corresponding cassette and a second protrusion position in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with a second portion of the puncturable member from the corresponding cassette.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the first portion of the puncturable member defines at least a portion of a first side wall defining the first reagent chamber; and

the first portion of the puncturable member defines at least a portion of a second side wall defining the second reagent chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the first protrusion position is a first position along a first axis; and

the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions along the first axis between the first protrusion position and the second protrusion position, the second actuator assembly is further configured to move the plurality of protrusions along a second axis different than the first axis when the plurality of protrusions is in the first position.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a pump configured to mix at least one of the first reagent or the second reagent with the particle within the first chamber; and

the second actuator assembly is configured to actuate each pump from the plurality of cassettes.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a pump configured to mix at least one of the first reagent or the second reagent with the particle within the first chamber; and

the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions to a third protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the pump from the corresponding cassette.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, 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 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 defining a reagent chamber containing a reagent, each cassette from the plurality of cassettes including a pump configured to mix the reagent with the particle within the first 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 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 reagent release system disposed within the instrument enclosure, the reagent release system including a plurality of protrusions and a second actuator assembly, the second actuator assembly configured to move the plurality of protrusions between a first protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the reagent chamber from the corresponding cassette and a second protrusion position in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the pump from the corresponding cassette,

the second actuator assembly configured to move a protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into contact with a plunger associated with the reagent chamber of the corresponding cassette to transfer a reagent from the reagent chamber into the first chamber,

the second actuator assembly configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into contact with the pump to actuate the pump.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions in a first direction between the first protrusion position and the second protrusion position, the second actuator assembly is further configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions in a second direction to transfer the reagent from the reagent chamber into the first chamber.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a puncturable member disposed between the first chamber and the reagent chamber; and

the second actuator assembly is configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions in a first direction between the first protrusion position and the second protrusion position, the second actuator assembly is further configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions in a second direction to puncture a portion of the puncturable member of a corresponding cassette.

19. 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 when the plurality of valve key shafts is in the second position.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, 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.