Sample processing units, systems, and related methods

• US 8,252,599 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ibis Biosciences Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ibis Biosciences Incorporated
• Inventors: Hofstadler, Steven A., Drader, Jared J., Gutierrez, Jose R., Gleason, Paul J., Bare, Rex O., Miller, Robert D., Smith, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Christine T
• Application Number:
  US13/221,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20120058552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 436/150, 436/149, 436/94, 436/93, 436/91, 422/63, 422/64, 422/65, 422/50
• US Class Current: 436/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/10 in the liquid or fluent state burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00524 Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• 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 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/14 Heterocyclic carbon compound [i.e. , O, S, N, Se, Te, as only ring hetero atom]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/142222 Hetero-O [e.g., ascorbic acid, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/143333 Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]

Abstract

Sample processing units useful for mixing and purifying materials, such as fluidic materials are provided. A sample processing unit typically includes a container configured to contain a sample comprising magnetically responsive particles, and one or more magnets that are in substantially fixed positions relative to the container. A sample processing unit also generally includes a conveyance mechanism configured to convey the container to and from a position that is within magnetic communication with the magnet, e.g., such that magnetically responsive particles with captured analytes can be retained within the container when other materials are added to and/or removed from the container. Further, a sample processing unit also typically includes a rotational mechanism that is configured to rotate the container, e.g., to effect mixing of sample materials disposed within the container. Related carrier mechanisms, sample processing stations, systems, and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of processing a sample comprising a nucleic acid, the method comprising:

a) providing a sample comprising at least one magnetically responsive particle comprising at least one captured first component comprising a nucleic acid;

b) providing at least one sample processing unit, comprising;

at least one container configured to contain said at least one sample;

at least one magnet that generates, or is configured to generate, at least one magnetic field, which magnet is in a substantially fixed position relative to said container;

at least one conveyance mechanism configured to convey said container between at least a first and a second position, wherein at least said first position is within magnetic communication with said magnet when said magnet generates said magnetic field; and

,

at least one rotational mechanism operably connected to said container, which rotational mechanism is configured to rotate said container around a central longitudinal axis of said container when said container is in at least said second position; and

c) adding said sample to said container when said container is in said second position;

d) moving said container into said first position using said conveyance mechanism such that said magnetic field generated by said magnet causes said at least one magnetically responsive particle to move and/or be retained proximal to a surface of said container; and

e) removing at least one second component from said container, thereby processing said sample.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first component comprises a nucleic acid amplification product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second component comprises a cationic salt, a metal cation, a detergent, a buffering agent, or a deoxynucleotide triphosphate.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising adding at least one wash reagent to said container.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising f) eluting said nucleic acid from said at least one magnetically responsive particle using an elution solution comprising piperidine, imidazole and MeOH.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said solution comprises at least one peptide calibration standard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetically responsive particle comprises an anion exchange resin.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said magnetically responsive particle comprises at least one biopolymer capture reagent.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said biopolymer capture reagent comprises at least one anion exchange functional group.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said anion exchange functional group comprises a pK_a value of 9.0 or greater.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said anion exchange functional group is selected from the group consisting of a primary amine, a second amine, a tertiary amine, a quaternary amine, a polyethyleneimine, a charged aromatic amine, a diethylaminomethyl, and a diethylaminoethyl.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising detecting at least one detectable signal of or from said sample.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said detectable signal comprises pH, temperature, pressure, density, salinity, conductivity, fluid level, radioactivity, luminescence, fluorescence, phosphorescence, emission, transmission, absorbance or molecular mass.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said detecting comprises detecting at least one molecular mass of at least one said nucleic acid.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said molecular mass is detected using a mass spectrometer.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said molecular mass is detected using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising correlating said molecular mass of said nucleic acid with a base composition, an identity or a source of said nucleic acid.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said sample processing unit comprises a controller comprising a programmed processor, a computer, a digital device, a logic device or an information appliance.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnet comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises generating the magnetic field prior to or during (d).

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said sample processing unit comprises a sample wash station, a container wash station, a fluid transfer station, a mixing station or a thermal cycling station.