Instrument for cassette for sample preparation

• US 9,434,939 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2016
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• 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): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US15/006,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 224 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. A system comprising:

a network; and

a plurality of instruments, wherein;

each instrument in the plurality of instruments is configured to receive a plurality of cassettes;

each instrument in the plurality of instruments comprises a particle transfer system including a plurality of valve shafts and a first actuator assembly;

each instrument in the plurality of instruments comprises a computer; and

each instrument in the plurality of instruments comprises a communication device, wherein the communication device is configured to couple the instrument to the network;

wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of valve shafts between a first position and a second position; and

the first actuator assembly is configured to rotate each valve shaft from the plurality of valve shafts when the plurality of valve shafts is in the second position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each cassette of the plurality of cassettes comprises a valve member defining a cavity within which a particle can be disposed, the valve member configured to transfer the particle between a first chamber of the cassette and a second chamber of the cassette.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to apply a magnetic force produced by a magnetic portion of each valve shaft to attract the particle into the cavity of the valve member of the corresponding cassette from the plurality of cassettes.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the first actuator assembly is configured to rotate when the particle is transferred between the first chamber of the cassette and the second chamber of the cassette.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein each instrument in the plurality of instruments comprises a reagent release system comprising a plurality of protrusions and a second actuator assembly.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein each cassette comprises a first reagent chamber and a second reagent chamber, and wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions between a first protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the first reagent chamber from the corresponding cassette and a second protrusion position, in which each protrusion from the plurality of protrusions is substantially aligned with the second reagent chamber from the corresponding cassette.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move a protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into contact with a plunger associated with the first chamber of the corresponding cassette to transfer a first reagent from the first reagent chamber into the first chamber, the second actuator assembly configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into contact with a plunger associated with the second reagent chamber of the corresponding cassette to transfer a second reagent from the second reagent chamber into the first chamber.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move the plurality of protrusions along a first axis between the first protrusion position and the second protrusion position, the second actuator assembly is further configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions along a second axis into contact with the plunger associated with the first reagent chamber.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the second actuator assembly is configured to move at least a portion of the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions into the first reagent chamber to transfer the first reagent from the first reagent chamber into the first chamber.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a puncturable member disposed between the first chamber and the first reagent chamber;

and the second actuator assembly is configured to move the protrusion from the plurality of protrusions such that the plunger associated with the first reagent chamber punctures a portion of the puncturable member.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein each cassette from the plurality of cassettes includes a pump configured to mix at least one of the first reagent or the second reagent with the particle within the first chamber;

and the second actuator assembly is configured to actuate each pump from the plurality of cassettes.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART).

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the communication device comprises a universal serial bus (USB).

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the communication device comprises a controller area network bus (CANBUS).

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is a wireless network.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is a wide area network (WAN).

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is a control area network (CAN).

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is a token ring.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is coupled to the internet.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is an Ethernet network.