Instrument for cassette for sample preparation

• US 8,900,877 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Yu, Steve Jia Chang, Ching, Jesus, Lee, Phillip You Fai, Hu, David Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Bass, Dirk
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US13/459,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20130115712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 422/60, 422/63, 422/65, 422/68.1, 422500-508, 422/537, 436/8, 436/50, 436/174, 436/43, 436/807
• US Class Current: 436/174
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• 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 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• 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 3/523 with means for closing or opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/527 for a plurality of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1013 by using magnetic beads
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00366 Several different temperatures used
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00544 using fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00574 Means for distributing beads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00801 : Holders for sample carriers, e.g. trays, caroussel, racks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00811 : consumable or exchangeable components other than sample carriers, e.g. detectors, flow cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 : network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0091 : GUI [graphical user interfaces]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0412 : Block or rack elements with a single row of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0415 : moving in two dimensions in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• 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 35/026 : having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 : having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 : using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/807 : Apparatus included in process claim, e.g. physical support structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 : Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing
• 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 436/25 : including sample preparation

Abstract

A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

(a) disposing a cassette in an instrument enclosure, the cassette comprising;

(i) a first chamber;

(ii) a second chamber;

(iii) a valve comprising a stationary piece and a movable piece, the movable piece defining a cavity within which magnetic particles can be disposed, the valve configured to transfer the magnetic particles between the first chamber and the second chamber while maintaining fluid isolation between the first chamber and the second chamber; and

(iv) a third chamber comprising a puncturable portion defining at least a portion of a boundary between the third chamber and the first chamber; and

(v) a fourth chamber comprising a puncturable portion defining at least a portion of a boundary between the fourth chamber and the first chamber;

(b) actuating a first plunger associated with the third chamber of the cassette to transfer a first reagent from the third chamber into the first chamber;

(c) actuating a second plunger associated with the fourth chamber of the cassette to transfer a second reagent from the fourth chamber into the first chamber;

(d) applying a magnetic force to the valve to attract the magnetic particles into the cavity of the movable piece of the valve; and

(e) moving the movable piece of the valve relative to the stationary piece of the valve such that the magnetic particles are transferred between the first chamber and the second chamber while maintaining fluid isolation between the first chamber and the second chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising washing the magnetic particles in a washing solution in the second chamber of the cassette.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the first chamber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cassette further comprises a fifth chamber comprising a puncturable portion defining at least a portion of a boundary between the fifth chamber and the first chamber, the method further comprising actuating a third plunger associated with the fifth chamber of the cassette to transfer a third reagent from the fifth chamber into the first chamber.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cassette further comprises a pump configured to mix at least the first reagent and the second reagent in the first chamber, the method further comprising actuating the pump.

6. A method, comprising:

(a) disposing a cassette in an instrument enclosure, the cassette comprising;

(i) a sample chamber containing a sample;

(ii) a wash chamber;

(iii) a valve comprising a stationary piece and a movable piece, the movable piece defining a cavity within which magnetic particles can be disposed, the valve configured to transfer the magnetic particles between the sample chamber and the wash chamber while maintaining fluid isolation between the sample chamber and the wash chamber; and

(iv) a first reagent chamber comprising a puncturable portion defining at least a portion of a boundary between the first reagent chamber and the sample chamber; and

(v) a magnetic particle chamber comprising a puncturable portion defining at least a portion of a boundary between the magnetic particle chamber and the sample chamber;

(b) actuating a first plunger associated with the first reagent chamber of the cassette to transfer a first reagent from the first reagent chamber into the sample chamber;

(c) actuating a second plunger associated with the magnetic particle chamber of the cassette to transfer magnetic particles from the magnetic particle chamber into the sample chamber;

(d) applying a magnetic force to the valve to attract the magnetic particles into the cavity of the movable piece of the valve; and

(e) moving the movable piece of the valve relative to the stationary piece of the valve such that the magnetic particles are transferred between the sample chamber and the wash chamber while maintaining fluid isolation between the sample chamber and the wash chamber.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sample is a blood or urine sample.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sample comprises cells.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cells are human cells, bacteria cells, or yeast cells.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first reagent is a lysis solution.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the cassette further comprises at least a second reagent chamber comprising a puncturable portion defining at least a portion of a boundary between the second reagent chamber and the sample chamber, the method further comprising actuating a third plunger associated with the second reagent chamber of the cassette to transfer the second reagent from the second reagent chamber into the sample chamber.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second reagent comprises proteinase K or a binding solution.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising heating the sample and one or more of a lysis solution, proteinase K, and magnetic particles in the sample chamber.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the cassette further comprises a pump configured to mix the sample and at least the first reagent in the sample chamber, the method further comprising actuating the pump.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the valve is a first valve, the wash chamber is a first wash chamber, and the cassette further comprises a second wash chamber, and a second valve comprising a stationary piece and a movable piece defining a cavity within which the magnetic particles can be disposed, the second valve configured to transfer the magnetic particles between the first wash chamber and the second wash chamber while maintaining fluid isolation between the first wash chamber and the second wash chamber, the method further comprising applying a magnetic force to the second valve to attract the magnetic particles into the cavity of the movable piece of the second valve;

and moving the movable piece of the second valve relative to the stationary piece of the second valve such that the magnetic particles are transferred between the first wash chamber and the second wash chamber while maintaining fluid isolation between the first wash chamber and the second wash chamber.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the cassette further comprises an elution chamber and a third valve comprising a stationary piece and a movable piece defining a cavity within which the magnetic particles can be disposed, the method comprising applying a magnetic force to the third valve to attract the magnetic particles into the cavity of the movable piece of the third valve;

and moving the movable piece of the third valve relative to the stationary piece of the valve such that the magnetic particles are transferred between the second wash chamber and the elution chamber.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising mixing the magnetic particles and an elution buffer in the elution chamber.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising heating the magnetic particles and the elution buffer in the elution chamber.