System for processing contents of a receptacle to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents

• US 9,372,156 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Knight, Byron J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FORMAN, BETTY J
• Application Number:
  US13/031,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20110147610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 435/283.1, 422/82.05
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: C12Q 1/6813 Hybridisation assays
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6851 Quantitative amplification
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2537/165 Mathematical modelling, e.g. logarithm, ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6419 Excitation at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6432 Quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6439 with indicators, stains, dyes, tags, labels, marks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6441 with two or more labels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00346 Heating or cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00524 Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0097 monitoring reactions as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0441 for samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0443 for reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0444 for cuvettes or reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0455 Coaxial carousels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0491 Position sensing, encoding; closed-loop control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/103 using disposable tips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6454 : using an integrated detector array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 : Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0415 : Carrusel, sequential
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00693 : Calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 : Scheduling
• 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 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 : having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• 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 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/808 : Optical sensing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/809 : Incubators or racks or holders for culture plates or containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 : with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation

Abstract

A system is configured to process the contents of one or more receptacles to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of each receptacle. Each receptacle is held within a receptacle station of a movable receptacle carrier disposed within a temperature-controlled chamber of an incubator. At least one signal detector is configured to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of a receptacle as the receptacle carrier moves each receptacle into an operative position with respect to the signal detector. A magnet holder is attached to the receptacle carrier and holds one or more magnets adjacent to an associated receptacle station so as to expose the contents of each receptacle carried in the receptacle station to a magnetic field when the receptacle is in the operative position with respect to the signal detector.

Claims

1. A system for processing the contents of one or more receptacles to detect an optical signal, if any, emitted by the contents of each receptacle, the system comprising:

an incubator including a temperature-controlled chamber configured to receive one or more receptacles;

at least one signal detector configured to detect an optical signal, if any, emitted by the contents of a receptacle disposed within said chamber in an operative position with respect to the signal detector;

a receptacle carrier disposed within said chamber and comprising one or more receptacle stations, each receptacle station being configured to receive and hold one or more receptacles; and

at least one magnet holder attached to said receptacle carrier and holding one or more magnets in a fixed position adjacent to an associated receptacle carrier station so as to expose the contents of each of one or more receptacles carried in the associated receptacle station to a magnetic field when each of the receptacles is in the operative position with respect to said at least one signal detector, and wherein said receptacle carrier, including said one or more receptacle stations, said magnet holder, and said one or more magnets, is automatically moveable relative to said at least one signal detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an individual one of said magnets is disposed so as to be adjacent to each of the receptacles that is in the operative position with respect to each signal detector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said receptacle carrier comprises a carousel that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and which comprises a plurality of said receptacle stations arranged around a circumference of said carousel, and wherein said magnet holder associated with each receptacle station is a magnetic divider attached to said carousel between the associated receptacle station and an adjacent receptacle station.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said magnetic divider comprises:

a magnet block attached to said carrousel, said magnet block having formed therein an opening for receiving each magnet carried on said magnetic divider; and

a retainer plate secured to said magnet block and configured to retain each magnet within its opening.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each opening formed in said magnet block is circular and each magnet is disc-shaped.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein each magnetic divider comprises a divider wall that is oriented generally radially with respect to the axis of rotation, and the divider walls of said magnetic dividers are positioned at angularly-spaced positions about the axis of rotation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each magnet comprises neodymium-iron-boron.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said incubator comprises a housing at least partially enclosing said chamber with one or more doors formed in said housing through which receptacles can be moved into and out of said chamber.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one signal detector is located outside said housing, and wherein said housing includes an opening through which each said signal detector can detect an optical signal, if any, emitted by the contents of a receptacle located inside said housing in the operative position with respect to the signal detector.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one signal detector comprises a fluorometer configured to detect a fluorescent signal, if any, emitted by the contents of a receptacle operatively positioned with respect to said fluorometer.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller programmed so as to determine the presence or amount of a target nucleic acid within the contents of each receptacle based on an optical signal detected by said at least one signal detector.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a separation station having movable magnets for selectively exposing the contents of a receptacle within said separation station to a magnetic field, thereby isolating magnetically-responsive solid supports within the receptacle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the separation station comprises a fluid aspirator configured to aspirate the fluid contents of the receptacle within said separation station.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the separation station further comprises a fluid dispenser configured to dispense a wash solution into the receptacle within said separation station.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the separation station further comprises a mixing device configured to agitate the contents of the receptacle within said separation station.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising an automated receptacle transport device constructed and arranged to move receptacles from said separation station to said incubator.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal detector comprises two or more signal detectors configured to detect an optical signal, if any, emitted by the contents of a receptacle disposed within said chamber in an operative position with respect to any of the signal detectors, wherein each signal detector is configured to detect an optical signal that is the same as the optical signal detected by at least one other signal detector or each signal detector is configured to detect an optical signal that is different from the optical signal detected by each other signal detector.

17. A system for processing the contents of a plurality of receptacles to detect an optical signal, if any, emitted by the contents of each receptacle, the system comprising:

an incubator including a temperature-controlled chamber configured to receive a plurality of receptacles;

at least one signal detector configured to detect an optical signal, if any, emitted by the contents of a receptacle disposed within said chamber in an operative position with respect to the signal detector;

a receptacle carrier disposed within said chamber and comprising one or more receptacle stations, wherein each receptacle station is configured to hold a plurality of receptacles arranged in an aligned configuration; and

at least one magnet holder attached to the receptacle carrier and holding a plurality of magnets in a fixed position adjacent to an associated receptacle station so as to expose the contents of each of the receptacles carried in the associated receptacle station to a magnetic field of at least one of the magnets when the receptacles are in the operative position with respect to said signal detector, and wherein said receptacle carrier, including said one or more receptacle stations, said magnet holder, and said magnets, is automatically moveable relative to said at least one signal detector.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one signal detector comprises two or more signal detectors configured to detect an optical signal, if any, emitted by the contents of a receptacle disposed within said chamber in an operative position with respect to any of the signal detectors, wherein each signal detector is configured to detect an optical signal that is the same as the optical signal detected by at least one other signal detector or each signal detector is configured to detect an optical signal that is different from the optical signal detected by each other signal detector.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said receptacle carrier comprises a carousel that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and which comprises a plurality of said receptacle stations arranged around a circumference of said carousel, and wherein said magnet holder associated with each receptacle station is a magnetic divider attached to said carousel between the associated receptacle station and an adjacent receptacle station.