Automated system for selectively processing a sample

• US 9,254,488 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2011
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Nederland B.V. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Nieuwenhuis, Jeroen, Evers, Toon
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frank, Rodney T
• Application Number:
  US13/808,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20130112018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 738/649.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00148 Test cards, e.g. Biomerieux or McDonnel multiwell test cards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0436 with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/552 Attenuated total reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for selectively processing a sample according to one of a plurality of different assays, for example, for detecting a certain target component in the sample, include a plurality of cartridges in which the processing of a sample can take place and which each contain a different set of reagents required for one of the assays. Moreover, the system further includes a manipulator for introducing a sample into a selected one of the cartridges. Depending on the assay to be performed with a sample at hand, the appropriate cartridge is chosen, and the sample is introduced into and processed in the cartridge.

Claims

1. A system for processing a sample according to a selected one of a plurality of assays, said system comprising:

a plurality of cartridges in which processing of a sample can take place and where each cartridge contains a different set of reagents required for at least one of the assays, the reagents including magnetic particles as label particles that selectively bind to one target component;

a manipulator for introducing a sample into a selected cartridge of the plurality of cartridges; and

at least one actuation-device and an integrated actuation-and-readout device comprising a magnetic field generator,

wherein the plurality of cartridges is configured to enable execution of a complete assay with a sample added to the cartridge without further liquid handling steps.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is accommodated in a housing.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system can perform more than 20 tests/hour.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein several copies of each cartridge are arranged in the reach of the manipulator.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of several copies of each cartridge and a waste reservoir are arranged in the reach of the manipulator.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

at least one readout-device in which target components of a sample can be detected,

at least one actuation-device in which a sample comprised in a cartridge can be actuated, preferably by the action of electromagnetic fields and/or heat, and

at least one integrated actuation-and-readout device.

7. The system or the method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the at least one readout-device, the at least one actuation-device, and the at least one integrated actuation-and-readout device can be moved by the manipulator together with the cartridge.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one cartridge of the plurality of cartridges is provided with automatically readable information carriers.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one cartridge of the plurality of cartridges comprises a plurality of sample chambers in which different assays can be executed.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cartridges has a sample chamber that is accessible from a top, and wherein the plurality of cartridges comprises optical structures for incoupling and outcoupling of light with which the sample in the sample chamber can be examined.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system can perform more than 50 tests/hour, most preferably more than 150 tests/hour.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system can perform more than 150 tests/hour.

13. A method for processing a sample in a system according to a selected one of a plurality of assays, said method comprising acts of:

providing a plurality of cartridges in which the processing of a sample can take place and where each cartridge contains a different set of reagents required for at least one of the assays;

introducing with a manipulator the sample into a selected cartridge of the plurality of cartridges,

wherein the plurality of cartridges is configured to enable execution of a complete assay with the sample added to the cartridge without further liquid handling acts.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of cartridges has a foil-based design.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of cartridges comprises dry reagents.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the reagents of the cartridge comprise at least one of binding sites that are specific for different target components, and label particles, that selectively bind to one target component.

17. A system for processing a sample according to a selected one of a plurality of assays, said system comprising:

a plurality of cartridges in which processing of a sample can take place and where each cartridge contains a different set of reagents required for at least one of the assays, the reagents including magnetic particles as label particles that selectively bind to one target component;

a manipulator for introducing a sample into a selected cartridge of the plurality of cartridges; and

at least one actuation-device and an integrated actuation-and-readout device comprising a magnetic field generator,

wherein the plurality of cartridges has a foil-based design.

18. A system for processing a sample according to a selected one of a plurality of assays, said system comprising:

a plurality of cartridges in which processing of a sample can take place and where each cartridge contains a different set of reagents required for at least one of the assays, the reagents including magnetic particles as label particles that selectively bind to one target component;

a manipulator for introducing a sample into a selected cartridge of the plurality of cartridges; and

at least one actuation-device and an integrated actuation-and-readout device comprising a magnetic field generator,

wherein at least one of the plurality of cartridges comprises dry reagents.

19. A system for processing a sample according to a selected one of a plurality of assays, said system comprising:

a plurality of cartridges in which processing of a sample can take place and where each cartridge contains a different set of reagents required for at least one of the assays, the reagents including magnetic particles as label particles that selectively bind to one target component;

a manipulator for introducing a sample into a selected cartridge of the plurality of cartridges; and

at least one actuation-device and an integrated actuation-and-readout device comprising a magnetic field generator,

wherein the reagents of the cartridge comprise at least one of binding sites that are specific for different target components, and label particles, that selectively bind to one target component.