Instrument for cassette for sample preparation

• US 9,273,344 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• 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): Alexander, Lyle
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US14/525,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20150050726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An apparatus comprising:

a rack;

a linear drive shaft;

a plurality of gears;

first and second vertical linear bearings;

a plurality of valve key shafts disposed on a first side of the rack, each of said valve key shafts comprising a magnet at an end of said valve key shafts distal to the rack;

a linear motor coupled to the plurality of valve key shafts via the linear drive shaft and the plurality of gears, wherein the linear motor is positioned on either end of the rack;

a vertical engagement driving motor coupled to the rack, wherein;

the vertical engagement driving motor is configured to vertically position the rack, wherein said vertical engagement driving motor is coupled to the first and second vertical linear bearings; and

the linear motor is configured to horizontally position and rotate the plurality of magnets and the valve key shafts via the plurality of gears.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vertical position sensor coupled to the rack and the vertical engagement driving motor, wherein the vertical position sensor is configured to detect a position of the plurality of valve key shafts.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a horizontal position sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a second linear drive shaft;

a second plurality of gears;

a plurality of second valve key shafts disposed on the first side of the rack, each of said second valve key shafts comprising a magnet at an end of each of said second valve key shafts distal to the rack;

a second linear motor coupled to the plurality of second valve key shafts via the second linear drive shaft and the second plurality of gears.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the linear motor is positioned at a first end of the rack and the second linear motor is positioned at a second end of the rack.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a first driving gear rack coupled to the linear motor and comprising a second driving gear rack coupled to the second linear motor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first driving gear rack engages each valve shaft of the plurality of valve key shafts and wherein the second driving gear rack engages each valve shaft of the plurality of second valve key shafts.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vertical engagement driving motor is positioned between the first end of the rack and the second end of the rack, and wherein the vertical engagement driving motor is positioned proximal to a second side of the rack that is opposed to the first side of the rack.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of gears comprises parallel gears.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is contained within an instrument configured for parallel processing of one or more samples.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the instrument is configured to perform a protocol selected to prepare a sample of the one or more samples.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the instrument comprises a touch screen display configured to allow a user to select the protocol.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the instrument comprises a magazine having one or more cassettes.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each cassette of the one or more cassettes comprises a plurality of valves.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each valve of said plurality of valves is configured to receive the magnet at the end of one of the plurality of valve key shafts.