Fluid cartridge

• US 9,630,179 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Knight, Byron J., Groeli, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US14/837,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20150369835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/02 Adapting objects or devices to another
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/142 Preventing evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/044 pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/048 enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 : capillary forces
• 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 3/5082 : Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 : Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 : with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50855 : using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells
• 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: B65B 69/00 : Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0207 : characterised by material, e.g. composition, physical features
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/34 : Trays or like shallow containers B65D81/3813 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/36 : with moulded compartments or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/50 : Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, preformed openings, e.g. tearable strips or plastic plugs B65D53/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2539/003 : provided with sealing flanges or ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/0017 : Injection-molded plastic closures for "Champagne"- or "Sekt"-type bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/0029 : Plastic closures other than those covered by groups B65D39/0011 - B65D39/0023
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 : Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00287 : movable lid/cover for sample or reaction tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6091 : Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 : having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 : Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 : Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 : with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

System, apparatuses, and methods for performing automated reagent-based analysis are provided. Also provided are methods for automated attachment of a cap to a reaction receptacle, and automated removal of a cap from a capped reaction receptacle.

Claims

1. A method for transferring a liquid from a fluid cartridge comprising a casing having a top surface, a fluid chamber comprising a well formed in the casing with an opening at the top surface that is sealed to prevent or limit liquid evaporation through the opening, a fluid reservoir adjacent to the fluid chamber and comprising a well formed in the casing with an opening at the top surface that is sealed to prevent or limit liquid evaporation through the opening, wherein the fluid chamber and the fluid reservoir contain the same liquid, wherein the opening of the fluid reservoir is larger than the opening of the fluid chamber, and wherein the opening of the fluid chamber is sealed by a frangible seal secured to the top surface and covering the opening of the fluid chamber, a first path between the fluid reservoir and the fluid chamber disposed proximate a lower portion of the fluid reservoir and fluid chamber and providing liquid communication between the fluid reservoir and the fluid chamber, and a second path between the fluid reservoir and fluid chamber disposed proximate a top portion of the fluid reservoir and fluid chamber and providing fluid communication between the fluid reservoir and the fluid chamber, the method comprising:

(a) penetrating the frangible seal covering the opening of the fluid chamber with an automated pipettor;

(b) contacting the liquid contained in the fluid chamber with the automated pipettor; and

(c) withdrawing at least a portion of the liquid from the fluid chamber with the automated pipettor, thereby causing liquid to flow from the fluid reservoir into the fluid chamber through the first path while air flows from the fluid chamber to the fluid reservoir through the second path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the frangible seal covering the opening of the fluid chamber comprises a laminate having a foil layer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the laminate further includes a plastic liner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the automated pipettor includes a removably attached pipette tip, and wherein step (a) is performed by puncturing that portion of the frangible seal which covers the opening of the fluid chamber with the pipette tip and step (c) comprises drawing at least a portion of the liquid into the pipette tip.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after step (c), moving the automated pipettor to a well and then dispensing at least a portion of the liquid withdrawn from the fluid chamber in step (c) into the well.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising penetrating a frangible seal covering the well with the automated pipettor prior to dispensing at least a portion of the liquid into the well.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the well is part of a tray having one or more wells, and wherein the method further comprises releasably securing the fluid cartridge and the tray to a rack configured to be inserted into an automated analyzer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises a reconstitution reagent, and the method further comprises, after step (c), moving the automated pipettor to a reagent well containing a lyophilized reagent and then dispensing at least a portion of the liquid drawn from the fluid chamber in step (c) into the reagent well to form a reconstituted reagent.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising alternately aspirating the liquid from and dispensing the liquid into the reagent well one or more times.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising withdrawing at least a portion of the reconstituted reagent from the reagent well with the automated pipettor, moving the automated pipettor to a receptacle, and dispensing at least a portion of the reconstituted reagent into the receptacle with the automated pipettor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising alternately aspirating the liquid from and dispensing the liquid into the receptacle one or more times.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises, after dispensing the reconstituted reagent into the receptacle, picking up a cap with a robot arm and attaching the cap to the receptacle with the robot arm.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receptacle is carried in a receptacle well and the cap is carried in a cap well, and wherein the reagent well, the receptacle well, and the cap well are components of a multi-well tray.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the cartridge further comprises an oil reservoir formed in the casing adjacent to the fluid reservoir and comprising a well with an opening at the top surface that is sealed to prevent or limit spillage through the opening, and wherein the opening of the oil reservoir is sealed by a frangible seal secured to the top surface and covering the opening of the oil reservoir, and the method further comprises:

(d) penetrating the frangible seal covering the opening of the oil reservoir with the automated pipettor;

(e) contacting the oil contained in the oil reservoir with the automated pipettor;

(f) withdrawing at least a portion of the oil from the oil reservoir with the automated pipettor;

(g) moving the automated pipettor to the well; and

(h) dispensing at least a portion of the oil withdrawn from the oil reservoir into the well.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the frangible seal covering the opening of the oil reservoir comprises a laminate having a foil layer.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the laminate further includes a plastic liner.

17. The method of claim 14,

wherein the automated pipettor includes a removably attached first pipette tip, and wherein step (a) is performed by puncturing that portion of the frangible seal which covers the opening of the fluid chamber with the first pipette tip and step (c) comprises drawing at least a portion of the liquid into the first pipette tip.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

dispensing at least a portion of the liquid drawn into the first pipette tip into the well; and

replacing the first pipette tip

with a second pipette tip prior to step (d), wherein step (d) is performed by puncturing that portion of the frangible seal which covers the opening of the oil reservoir with the second pipette tip and step (f) comprises drawing at least a portion of the oil into the second pipette tip.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid cartridge further includes a machine-readable identifying label on the casing, and wherein the method further comprises reading information related to the liquid contained in the fluid cartridge from the label.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the machine-readable identifying label comprises at least one of a bar code label, a quick response code label, and a radio frequency identification label.

21. The method of claim 10, further comprising using an automated pipettor to dispense sample material into the receptacle to which the reconstituted reagent is added.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the cartridge further comprises an oil reservoir formed in the casing adjacent to the fluid reservoir and comprising a well with an opening at the top surface that is sealed to prevent or limit spillage through the opening, and wherein the opening of the oil reservoir is sealed by a frangible seal secured to the top surface and covering the opening of the oil reservoir, and the method further comprises:

penetrating the frangible seal covering the opening of the oil reservoir with the automated pipettor;

contacting the oil contained in the oil reservoir with the automated pipettor;

withdrawing at least a portion of the oil from the oil reservoir with the automated pipettor;

moving the automated pipettor to the receptacle to which sample material and reconstituted reagent are added; and

dispensing at least a portion of the oil withdrawn from the oil reservoir into the receptacle.