Apparatus and methods for integrated sample preparation, reaction and detection

• US 9,248,422 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2012
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Ching, Jesus, Richardson, Bruce, Lee, Phillip You Fai
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyun, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/464,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20120288897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 422/81, 422/82.05
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/65 the materials to be mixed being directly submitted to a pulsating movement, e.g. by means of an oscillating piston or air column
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/712 for feeding fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/715 Feeding the components in several steps, e.g. successive steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0647 Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
• 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 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0265 using valves to interrupt or meter fluid flow, e.g. using solenoids or metering valves
• 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 3/527 : for a plurality of reagents
• 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 7/525 : with physical movement of samples between temperature zones

Abstract

An apparatus includes a housing, a reaction vial and a transfer mechanism. The housing defines a first flow path and a second flow path. The housing has transfer port defining an opening in fluid communication with the second flow path and a volume outside of the housing. The transfer port includes a flow control member to limit flow through the opening. The reaction vial is coupled to the housing and defines a reaction volume, which is in fluid communication with the transfer port via the second flow path. The transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a sample from an isolation chamber of an isolation module to the reaction chamber via at least the first flow path when the transfer mechanism is actuated. The transfer mechanism configured to produce a vacuum in the reaction vial to produce a flow of a sample from the isolation chamber to the reaction volume.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing defining a first flow path and a second flow path, the housing having a flow cell portion defining a detection volume, wherein the flow cell portion is located within an extension of the housing;

a reaction vial coupled to the housing, the reaction vial defining a reaction volume, the reaction volume in fluid communication with the detection volume via the first flow path; and

a transfer mechanism in fluid communication with the detection volume via the second flow path, the transfer mechanism configured to transfer a sample from the reaction volume to the detection volume when the transfer mechanism is actuated;

an optics module interfaced with the extension, wherein;

the apparatus is configured to allow the sample to flow within the first flow path in a first direction into the detection volume while a second portion of the sample flows within the second flow path in a second direction opposite the first direction;

the optics module comprises a magnet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the sample includes a plurality of particles within a fluid; and

the flow cell portion includes a flow structure configured to control the passage of the plurality of particles through the detection volume.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transfer mechanism is configured to produce a vacuum in the detection volume to produce a flow of the sample from the reaction volume to the detection volume.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a wall defining at least a portion of the boundary of the detection volume is constructed of a compliant material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a wall of the flow cell portion is configured to move when the sample is transferred from the reaction volume to the detection volume.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow cell portion includes a valve configured to selectively fluidically isolate the reaction volume from the detection volume.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a plunger.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the plunger is configured to produce a vacuum within the detection volume.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the plunger is configured to open a volume within the transfer mechanism within which a portion of the sample can flow after passing through the flow cell portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optics module comprises a light source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optics module comprises multiple light sources configured to emit different wavelengths of light.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optics module comprises a light detector.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the light detector is a CCD camera.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow cell portion comprises a flow structure configured to control the passage of the sample through the detection volume.