Multi-format sample processing devices and systems

• US 7,939,018 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bedingham, William, Robole, Barry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US10/808,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20040179974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,603 Days
• Field of Search: 422/64, 422/72, 422/506, 436/45, 436/177, 435/288.5
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/021 Adjust spacings in an array of wells, pipettes or holders, format transfer between arrays of different size or geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1861 using radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1872 Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• 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 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• 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: F27B 9/16 the charge moving in a circular or arcuate path
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 5/00 Supports, screens, or the like for the charge within the furnace travelling or movable supports F27D3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 : whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/111666 : Utilizing a centrifuge or compartmented rotor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 : Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems for processing sample materials are disclosed. The present invention may provide a bridge between standard microtiter plate systems, methods, protocols, etc. (that include wells arranged in rectangular arrays) and rotating sample processing devices and systems that allow users to obtain the rapid processing advantages of the more advanced sample processing devices. The sample processing devices preferably include a rectangular body to improve compatibility of the sample processing devices of the present invention with equipment designed for use with more conventional microtiter plates (which are typically rectangular in shape). The sample processing devices also include at least one set of process chambers arranged in one or more circular arcs and may include input and/or output chambers arranged in a rectilinear grid array.

Claims

1. A sample processing device comprising:

a rectangular body; and

a plurality of process arrays located within the body, each of the process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber located between the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a circular arc, and wherein the input chamber, the output chamber, and the primary process chamber of each process array are interconnected;

wherein the input chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array;

wherein the output chambers of the process arrays of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array; and

wherein between the plurality of process arrays, each primary process chamber arranged in the circular arc varies in distance to each interconnected input chamber arranged in the rectilinear array of input chambers.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the input chambers of at least two of the process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

3. A device according to claim 1, the device further comprising a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the process arrays are arranged in a circular arc, and wherein the secondary process chamber of each process array is interconnected with the primary process chamber and the output chamber located proximate the secondary process chamber of each process array.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the circular arc of the primary process chambers and the circular arc of the secondary process chambers are concentric arcs.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the input chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged along a straight line.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of process arrays further comprises at least one valve located between the input chamber and the output chamber.

6. A sample processing device comprising:

a rectangular body; and

a plurality of process arrays located within the body, each of the process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber located between the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the input chamber, the output chamber, and the primary process chamber of each process array are interconnected;

wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a circular arc;

and wherein the output chambers of the process arrays of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array;

wherein the input chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array;

and wherein between the plurality of process arrays, each primary process chamber arranged in the circular arc varies in distance to each interconnected input chamber arranged in the rectilinear array of input chambers;

and wherein the input chambers of at least two of the process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

7. A device according to claim 6, the device further comprising a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the process arrays are arranged in a circular arc, and wherein the secondary process chamber of each process array is interconnected with the primary process chamber and the output chamber located proximate the secondary process chamber of each process array.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the circular arc of the primary process chambers and the circular arc of the secondary process chambers are concentric arcs.

9. A device according to claim 6, wherein the input chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged along a straight line.

18. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of process arrays further comprises at least one valve located between the input chamber and the output chamber.

10. A sample processing device comprising:

a rectangular body; and

a plurality of process arrays located within the body, each of the process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, a primary process chamber located between the input chamber and the output chamber, and a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a circular arc, and wherein the input chamber, the output chamber, the primary process chamber, and the secondary process chamber of each process array are interconnected;

wherein the input chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array;

wherein the output chambers of the process arrays of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array; and

wherein between the plurality of process arrays, each primary process chamber arranged in the circular arc varies in distance to each interconnected input chamber arranged in the rectilinear array of input chambers.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the input chambers of at least two of the process arrays comprise a common input chamber.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the input chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged along a straight line.

19. The device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of process arrays further comprises at least one valve located between the input chamber and the output chamber.

13. A sample processing device comprising:

a rectangular body; and

a plurality of process arrays located within the body, each of the process arrays comprising an input chamber, an output chamber, and a primary process chamber located between the input chamber and the output chamber, wherein the primary process chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a circular arc, and wherein the input chambers of at least two of the process arrays comprise a common input chamber, and wherein the input chamber, the output chamber, and the primary process chamber of each process array are interconnected;

wherein the input chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array;

wherein the output chambers of the process arrays of the plurality of process arrays are arranged in a rectilinear grid array; and

wherein between the plurality of process arrays, each primary process chamber arranged in the circular arc varies in distance to each interconnected input chamber arranged in the rectilinear array of input chambers.

14. A device according to claim 13, the device further comprising a secondary process chamber located between the primary process chamber and the output chamber of each of the process arrays, wherein the secondary process chambers of the process arrays are arranged in a circular arc, and wherein the secondary process chamber of each process array is interconnected with the primary process chamber and the output chamber located proximate the secondary process chamber of each process array.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the circular arc of the primary process chambers and the circular arc of the secondary process chambers are concentric arcs.

16. A device according to claim 13, wherein the input chambers of the plurality of process arrays are arranged along a straight line.

20. The device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of process arrays further comprises at least one valve located between the input chamber and the output chamber.