System for incubating the contents of a reaction receptacle

• US 8,221,682 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ammann, Kelly G., Schneider, Robert E., Smith, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Brian R
• Application Number:
  US13/232,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20120070884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 422 63- 681, 422/81, 422/82.12, 422552-554, 422/108, 422/109, 422/50, 422/401, 422/407, 436 43- 54, 436/174, 436/180, 435/6.1, 435/91.1, 435/91.2, 700/266
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1822 using Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• 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: B01L 7/5255 by moving sample containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00524 Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0437 Cleaning cuvettes or reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0455 Coaxial carousels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/103 using disposable tips
• 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 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• 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 436/119163 with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays includes multiple modules in which aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, pre-heating the sample, incubating the sample, performing an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. A receptacle transporting system moves reaction receptacles from one station to the next. A method for performing an assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte. The process is performed by moving each of a plurality of reaction receptacles containing a solid support material and a fluid sample between stations for pre-heating and incubating the contents of the reaction receptacle and for separating the target analyte bound to the solid support from the fluid sample. An amplification reagent is added to the analyte after the separation step and before incubation.

Claims

1. A system for performing an amplification procedure at an incubation temperature within a prescribed temperature range, the system comprising:

(A) an incubator comprising;

(1) an incubator housing defining an incubation chamber; and

(2) an incubator thermal element adapted to cause the temperature within said incubation chamber to be about the incubation temperature;

(B) a fluid dispensing system configured to automatically dispense reagents for performing a nucleic acid amplification procedure into the reaction receptacle;

(C) a temperature ramping station adapted to adjust the temperature of the contents of a reaction receptacle to approximate the incubation temperature, said temperature ramping station comprising;

(1) a ramping station housing adapted to receive and hold a reaction receptacle; and

(2) a ramping station thermal element adapted to cause the temperature within said ramping station housing to approximate the incubation temperature;

(D) a receptacle transport mechanism constructed and arranged to automatically move said reaction receptacle between said temperature ramping station and said incubator; and

(E) a system controller operatively coupled to said incubator, said temperature ramping station, said fluid dispensing system, and said receptacle transport mechanism and configured to;

(1) cause said fluid dispensing system to dispense a reagent for performing a nucleic acid amplification procedure to a reaction receptacle that is provided to said temperature ramping station;

(2) after retaining the reaction receptacle within said temperature ramping station for a predetermined length of time while subjecting the reaction receptacle and its contents to thermal energy to adjust the temperature of the contents of the reaction receptacle to approximate the incubation temperature, cause said receptacle transport mechanism to move the reaction receptacle from said temperature ramping station into said incubator;

(3) control the temperature of the incubator to maintain the contents of the reaction receptacle at the incubation temperature; and

(4) retain the reaction receptacle within said incubator for a predetermined period of time while maintaining the incubator at the incubation temperature to thereby subject the target nucleic acid to an amplification procedure that results in the formation of amplification products, each of the amplification products formed from the target nucleic acid having a nucleic acid sequence that is the same as or complementary to a target sequence contained within the target nucleic acid.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said temperature ramping station includes at least one temperature sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said ramping station thermal element comprises a thermoelectric module.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled with said thermoelectric module.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said ramping station thermal element comprises an electrically resistive foil.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said receptacle transport mechanism is constructed and arranged to move said reaction receptacle along a portion of a circular path between said temperature ramping station and said incubator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said incubator further comprises a receptacle access opening formed in said incubator housing and a closure mechanism constructed and arranged to be movable between a closed position preventing access to said incubation chamber through said receptacle access opening and an open position permitting access to said incubation chamber through said receptacle access opening.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said incubator further comprises a receptacle carrier disposed within said incubation chamber and including a plurality of receptacle stations, each of said receptacle stations being constructed and arranged to carry a reaction receptacle, said receptacle carrier being constructed and arranged to present any of said plurality of receptacle stations in a receptacle transfer position with respect to said receptacle access opening.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said ramping station housing is adapted to accept a single reaction receptacle and hold said reaction receptacle stationary within said ramping station housing.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said reaction receptacle is one of a plurality of integrally formed reaction receptacles.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said incubator further comprises a heat sensor constructed and arranged to measure the temperature within said incubation chamber.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer controller is further configured to cause said receptacle transport mechanism to provide the reaction receptacle to said temperature ramping station after said fluid dispensing system dispenses the reagent for performing a nucleic acid amplification procedure to the reaction receptacle.