Methods and instruments for processing a sample in a multi-chambered receptacle
First Claim
1. A method of processing a sample in a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a sample to a first chamber of the receptacle;
(b) independently combining in separate chambers of the receptacle;
(i) at least a portion of the sample contained in the first chamber and at least a portion of a sample processing reagent contained in a second chamber of the receptacle, wherein the sample processing reagent contains a solid support for immobilizing an analyte suspected of being present in the sample;
(ii) at least a portion of a substance contained in a third chamber and at least a portion of a substance contained in a fourth chamber that is different from the substance contained in the third chamber; and
(iii) at least a portion of a substance contained in a fifth chamber and at least a portion of a substance contained in a sixth chamber that is different from the substance contained in the fifth chamber;
(c) removing one or more non-analyte components of the combination of substep (i) to a waste chamber of the receptacle while the analyte remains immobilized by the solid support in a sample processing chamber of the receptacle; and
(d) after steps (b) and (c), combining in a chamber of the receptacle the analyte with at least a portion of each of the combinations of substeps (ii) and (iii),wherein the receptacle remains stationary during steps (b) through (d).
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.
373 Citations
94 Claims
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1. A method of processing a sample in a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sample to a first chamber of the receptacle; (b) independently combining in separate chambers of the receptacle; (i) at least a portion of the sample contained in the first chamber and at least a portion of a sample processing reagent contained in a second chamber of the receptacle, wherein the sample processing reagent contains a solid support for immobilizing an analyte suspected of being present in the sample; (ii) at least a portion of a substance contained in a third chamber and at least a portion of a substance contained in a fourth chamber that is different from the substance contained in the third chamber; and (iii) at least a portion of a substance contained in a fifth chamber and at least a portion of a substance contained in a sixth chamber that is different from the substance contained in the fifth chamber; (c) removing one or more non-analyte components of the combination of substep (i) to a waste chamber of the receptacle while the analyte remains immobilized by the solid support in a sample processing chamber of the receptacle; and (d) after steps (b) and (c), combining in a chamber of the receptacle the analyte with at least a portion of each of the combinations of substeps (ii) and (iii), wherein the receptacle remains stationary during steps (b) through (d). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of processing a sample in a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sample to a first chamber of the receptacle; (b) independently combining in separate chambers of the receptacle; (i) at least a portion of the sample contained in the first chamber and at least a portion of a sample processing reagent contained in a second chamber of the receptacle, wherein the sample processing reagent contains a solid support for immobilizing an analyte suspected of being present in the sample; and (ii) at least a portion of a substance contained in a third chamber and at least a portion of a substance contained in a fourth chamber that is different from the substance contained in the third chamber; (c) removing one or more non-analyte components of the combination of substep (i) to a waste chamber of the receptacle while the analyte remains immobilized by the solid support in a sample processing chamber of the receptacle; and (d) after steps (b) and (c), combining in a chamber of the receptacle the analyte with at least a portion of the combination of substep (ii) and at least a portion of a substance or combination of substances contained in a fifth chamber that is different from the combination of substep (ii), provided that no component of the sample is moved into at least one of the third and fifth chambers if the fifth chamber is directly connected to the fourth chamber, provided that no component of the sample is moved into at least one of the third and fifth chambers if the fifth chamber is not directly connected to either of the third and fourth chambers, and provided that no component of the sample is moved into the fifth chamber if the fifth chamber is directly connected to the third chamber but not to the fourth chamber, wherein the receptacle remains stationary during steps (b) through (d). - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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Specification