Apparatus for and method of processing biological samples

• US 8,845,984 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Amshey, Joseph, Bezdek, Daniel, Kahatt, Espir, Khorlin, Alexander, Parsons, Lance, Peterson, Todd, Powers, Timothy, Thacker, Michael, Updyke, Timothy, Zgonc, Kornelija
• Primary Examiner(s): Nagpaul, Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US13/615,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20130040376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/500, 422/561, 422 63- 67, 436/180
• US Class Current: 422/561
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• 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 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/088 Channel loops
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0605 check valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• 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 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00306 Housings, cabinets, control panels (details)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1037 Using surface tension, e.g. pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention provides systems, devices, apparatuses and methods for automated bioprocessing. Examples of protocols and bioprocessing procedures suitable for the present invention include but are not limited to: immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, recombinant protein isolation, nucleic acid separation and isolation, protein labeling, separation and isolation, cell separation and isolation, food safety analysis and automatic bead based separation. In some embodiments, the invention provides automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods of western blot processing. Other embodiments include automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods for separation, preparation and purification of nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA or fragments thereof, including plasmid DNA, genomic DNA, bacterial DNA, viral DNA and any other DNA, and for automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods for processing, separation and purification of proteins, peptides and the like.

Claims

1. A bioprocessing cartridge comprising:

a) at least one bioprocessing chamber configured to contain a solid support;

b) a plurality of mesoscale and/or microscale process fluid channels in fluid communication with the bioprocessing chamber through at least one pump, wherein the at least one pump is included in or on the bioprocessing cartridge;

c) a film or foil layer enclosing the at least one bioprocessing chamber, the plurality of mesoscale and/or microscale fluid channels, and the at least one pump; and

d) a cartridge alignment guide configured to hold the bioprocessing cartridge in a cartridge holder of a bioprocessing device,

wherein said cartridge comprises at least one access valve within a flow path defined by at least one of the plurality of process fluid channels, wherein each of said at least one access valves is located within a flow path between a process fluid connector and the at least one of the plurality of process fluid channels, each process fluid connector configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to one or more fluid containers and wherein said cartridge comprises more than one access valve, wherein each access valve is placed within a flow path between an independent process fluid connector and one of the plurality of process fluid channels, each independent process fluid connector configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to one or more fluid containers.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said process fluid connectors are configured to connect to said fluid containers via a manifold.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said process fluid connectors are configured to connect to said fluid containers via aspiration and/or expiration tubes.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said process fluid connectors are aspiration and/or expiration tubes.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said cartridge comprises an access valve within each of the flow paths between each of the process fluid connectors and each of the plurality of process fluid channels.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising at least one process valve in a flow path between the pump and the chamber.

7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said cartridge comprises two or more bioprocessing chambers.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of control fluid channels.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising control fluid connectors connecting to each of said plurality of control fluid channels, each control fluid connector configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to one or more automated control systems.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said cartridge comprises a dye chamber in fluid communication with at least one process fluid channel, wherein a material within said dye chamber changes color when contacted with a fluid.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the two or more fluid layers comprise at least a process fluid layer and a control fluid layer.

12. The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising two film or foil layers.

13. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the mesoscale and/or microscale process fluid channels are formed from one or more substrate layers and the cartridge further comprises one or more additional layers or elements between the one or more the substrate layers.

14. A bioprocessing cartridge comprising:

a) at least one bioprocessing chamber configured to contain a solid support;

b) a plurality of mesoscale and/or microscale process fluid channels in fluid communication with the bioprocessing chamber through at least one pump, wherein the at least one pump is included in or on the bioprocessing cartridge;

c) a film or foil layer enclosing the at least one bioprocessing chamber, the plurality of mesoscale and/or microscale fluid channels, and the at least one pump; and

d) a cartridge alignment guide configured to hold the bioprocessing cartridge in a cartridge holder of a bioprocessing device,

the bioprocessing cartridge comprising a plurality of control fluid channels and further comprising control fluid connectors connecting to each of said plurality of control fluid channels, each control fluid connector configured to fluidly connect the cartridge to one or more automated control systems.